An undercover police officer was photographed pointing his gun at Garner/Ferguson protesters Wednesday evening in Oakland, Calif., as he and his partner faced off with demonstrators.

Reuters photographer Noah Berger captured the stunning moment:

An undercover cop pulled a gun on Michael Brown and Eric Garner protesters in Oakland: http://t.co/Hzh78MNaj6 pic.twitter.com/zZMBKhWavR — Complex (@ComplexMag) December 11, 2014

Another photograph shows the unidentified officer pointing his weapon directly at Berger:

Undercover officers aiming guns weren't Oakland PD per @OPDChris—but from an “outside agency” http://t.co/K8EzZiGHIt pic.twitter.com/T6umEUXayp — Xeni Jardin (@xeni) December 11, 2014

According to KTVU, here’s how the situation unfolded:

Two officers, both dressed as civilians and wearing bandanas over their faces, were walking with the group when the demonstrators started pointing at them yelling, “Hey, they’re undercover, they’re cops!” […] One Berkeley resident, Dylan, who declined to give his last name, said he pulled off the officer’s bandana. The two policemen started to walk away, but the protesters persisted, screaming at the two undercover cops. One of the officers pushed a protester aside. The man responded by pushing back and then the officer tackled him to the ground, handcuffing him. The crowd, incensed, began to gather around them. The second officer pulled out his gun and pointed it at the crowd. More officers quickly arrived and dispersed the crowd.

Another reporter spoke to witnesses who suggested the two undercover officers were attempting to stir the crowd up and get them to commit crimes. In a series of tweets, Oakland police Lt. Chris Bolton clarified that those armed men were from an “outside” agency and that he would investigate claims about their incitement of violence:

#OaklandProtests If allegation officers incited crime, crowd source video & provide a link so I may forward. Obviously troubling. — Lt. Chris Bolton (@OPDChris) December 11, 2014

The #OaklandProtest pictured man isn't an OPD officer & not an OPD arrest. OPD 1st responded to scene on report from other agency. 1/1 — Lt. Chris Bolton (@OPDChris) December 11, 2014

2/2 That outside agency has been notified to provide details and address concerns re #OaklandProtest concerns. — Lt. Chris Bolton (@OPDChris) December 11, 2014

[All images via Noah Berger/Reuters]

— —

>> Follow Andrew Kirell (@AndrewKirell) on Twitter

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]