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: Of a Public Defender's Life

Our Streets Are Safe Once Again!

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I'll never understand it completely. I get taser stories through Google Alerts in my inbox everyday but occassionally, one catches your eye.

Like this one.

Bicyclist tased when he runs for minor infraction
By E-R Staff
Article Launched: 01/29/2008 12:00:00 AM
PST
HAMILTON CITY -- A man riding a bicycle with improper lighting equipment was shot with a Taser stun gun Wednesday night as he ran from a deputy who tried to stop him for the infraction.

After repeated attempts, Glenn County sheriff's deputy Cale Smith said he finally got the attention of the rider on Sierra Street, who jumped from the bike and began running.
After a half-block chase and several warnings from Smith that he would use the Taser, he did. Sgt. Scott James said only one probe struck the man, identified as Omar Herrada Rivera, 39, and he received no shock.

Smith caught up with him near the garage of a home, and took him into custody after a brief struggle. James said Smith was fully justified in firing his Taser, because Rivera was running toward a home, and could have endangered people inside.

"We consider the Taser as being at the same level of force as other weapons, including pepper spray and batons," James said. He added that deputies don't deploy Tasers against subjects who are driving or riding a bike because of the risk factor.
Rivera was transported to Glenn Medical Center, where he was cleared for booking into the Glenn County Jail on suspicion of resisting arrest, riding a bicycle without proper lighting, riding under the influence of alcohol and use of false citizenship/government documents.

So, I guess it could have been worse. He could have had a Baton used by this officer to beat him down for bicycling without headlights.

Thank god, the Chico Police were able to stop this lawbreaker from driving without headlights ever again in the great country of ours. Our streets are safe once again!

For the record, Chico is a college town and bicycle heavy...you can throw a rock (I don't recommend it) and hit 3 or 4 bicyclists riding without "proper lighting" pretty much any time of the day.

(This story is from the Chico Enterprise and I'm posting it in its entirety because the last time I quoted a story from the CE, the link to the story kept getting moved and everyone told me the story I was referring to in my post was pointing to a dead link. My apologies to the Chico Enterprise.)

Full post as published by Of a Public Defender's Life on January 30, 2008 (boomark / email).

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