WASHINGTON (AP) - A New York City man who was in Washington for a conference of community activists says D.C. police officers used excessive force after mistaking him for a homicide suspect.

Craig "Nehemiah" Wilson alleges that he was thrown to the ground and pepper-sprayed on Saturday while attending a National People's Action conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

He says he was released and that police acknowledged their mistake. Demonstrators held a rally outside the police department Monday to support Wilson.

Police spokeswoman Gwendolyn Crump confirmed Monday that Wilson had been arrested on a charge of assaulting a police officer by police looking for a man wanted in connection with a homicide. She says the department will investigate allegations of excessive force.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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