Protesters objecting to the Olympics smashed windows as they marched through downtown Vancouver on Saturday morning. (CBC)

The parents of a U.S. man arrested in Vancouver during an Olympics protest that turned violent on Saturday say their son is being unfairly vilified in the media and was guilty only of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Vancouver police arrested Daniel Frederick Myers, 22, during the protest march that turned ugly when some of the protesters began smashing store windows with chairs and newspaper boxes.

Myers was charged with possession of a dangerous weapon and possession of a prohibited weapon. Two Vancouver women were also charged with assaulting a peace officer.

Speaking from their home outside of Seattle, Mark and Gloria Myers told CBC News that Daniel was not part of the so-called black bloc of balaclava-clad anarchists who police have blamed for the vandalism and was only carrying a bicycle chain as a symbol of environmental protest.

"He is not a terrorist. He is not an anarchist," Mark Myers said.

As tough as it was to get the news that their son had been arrested, the couple said hearing the way he's been described is even worse.

Cycled 60 kilometres from Washington

"He's being painted as an ogre and a troublemaker and someone who is importing U.S. – almost – terrorist tactics," Mark Myers. "I've seen things like that. It's totally off base."

"It's very sad," Gloria.

Police arrested three of the protesters, including U.S. student Daniel Myers. (Leanne Hazon/CBC)They say the Western Washington University student rode his bike the 60 kilometres from Bellingham, Wash., to Surrey, B.C., and then hopped on the SkyTrain to join the march in downtown Vancouver on Saturday morning to protest the carbon footprint the Games will generate.

"Admittedly, … it showed poor judgment that he was with that particular group, but he certainly does not agree with their beliefs," said Mark Myers.

"He was not violent or pushy or rude or anything to the police, but he was there, and it didn't look good," Gloria Myers said. "They said in that context, [the bike chain] was a weapon."

Police released Daniel Myers, but he remains in the custody of border services authorities.