If that's true, then it would be simple to match them, to the ones that the police use. In the confrontations that occurred, it would be quite possible for a package of zip ties to fall out of a cop's pocket, be pulled out, or dropped unnoticed when putting them back in a pocket or vest pouch. If they match, and they try to still claim he brought them from home, the question should be, how did he know the exact type of zip ties the police use, so he could use the excuse that he found them, if he was arrested with them on him.
They were/are Zip hand cuffs common issue to LEO’s in crowd control situations.
As an officer can not carry enough standard handcuffs to handle large amounts of people.
Plus standard cuffs are expensive, there is a good chance of losing them. After the person cuffed is taken away.
If you look at the picture they are not straight but are looped at each end.
Flexi-cuffs usually have a wire running through them which makes it far more difficult to cut through or pop off, unlike zip-ties which are generally just plastic except for the tiny metal blade inside the head that locks them.
Flexicuffs intended for LE use are significantly more expensive than simple zip ties, and I believe are marked with a lot # which would make it relatively easy to confirm/deny if they were sold to an agency active at the capital on 1/6.