CHP officer arrests Pop Warner coach after verbal spat
By Susan Wood
In an apparent show of testosterone, a confrontation at South Tahoe High School this week that led to an arrest of a Pop Warner coach by a California Highway Patrol officer has turned into a legal battle with opposing investigations.
Defensive coach Jim Durham was arrested and later released Tuesday evening after sharing a heated discussion about trespassing with CHP Officer Alton Randall, who removed Durham from the football field in front of many parents, players and other coaches.
Consequently, Durham and the Pop Warner league have retained an attorney, and the CHP South Lake Tahoe division will conduct an internal investigation of the incident.
According to the CHP, Randall was on duty that night as he responded to motorists parking in an illegal parking zone and walked through the fencing where the teams practice. Durham approached the officer and allegedly told him he was “not allowed on the field,” CHP Lt. Tim Malone explained of the state agency’s investigation.
The two men were terse in their exchange until the coach became “animated, aggravated and approached the officer in an aggressive manner,” Malone added.
“(Randall) told him to stop and not approach any further,” Malone told Lake Tahoe News. From there, the uniformed officer pulled out his Taser stun gun but “he did not deploy the Taser.”
Durham was arrested on charges of obstructing, delaying and resisting an officer. He was released and not booked into custody. Malone would not say if Randall has a history of being in confrontations. He was not placed on any type of leave.
The case may end up with the El Dorado County District Attorney’s office, but Tahoe’s Assistant District Attorney Hans Uthe has not received it, he told Lake Tahoe News Friday.
No report was made by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department.
The highly charged incident stunned Lake Tahoe Unified School District Superintendent Jim Tarwater.
“I’ve never in all my years had that happen on school grounds,” Tarwater said Friday.
CHP has jurisdiction to enforce the traffic laws. It’s unclear how the traffic ended up on a football field.
“Going out on a field – that I don’t know about,” Tarwater said, characterizing the confrontation as “unconventional.”
The incident has become a serious matter for Pop Warner, which issues its own local, regional and national codes of conduct. The question of a possible wrongful arrest arose.
South Tahoe Pop Warner President Chuck Leonard declined Friday to speak to the legal matter and deferred all questions to their attorney Al Villalobos.
Villalobos insisted that people on the field recall a different version of the exchange between the two men and hopes to get to the bottom of the matter after the league completes its interviews with witnesses.
“Pop Warner is investigating the incident between Officer Randall and coach Jim Durham, and (the youth athletic organization) is very concerned about allegations of inappropriate police conduct in front of 100 players, coaches and parents,” he said.
He stopped short of saying whether the incident will lead to a suit against the state or the officer, but he didn’t rule it out.
Villalobos declined to comment further while the matter is being investigated.
Susan, I believe CHP officers are full time police officers with all police powers. Therefore they can go anywhere, with some exceptions to investigate when they believe a crime has been committed.
More importantly, what is the problem with an uniformed officer going on the football field? BTW, isn’t it the parents who usually do the fighting among themselves?
It seems possibly that the football coach has a real problem with law enforcement.
Talk about mountains out of mole hills I can’t wait to read the whole story and how nothing became something.
Hopefully just a very minor misunderstanding between one or two jerks or no jerks at all.
I was there and the CHP was way out of line. A players parent that does not like Durham went to the officer and filled his head that Jim was a mean and violent man. The CHP officer has had MULTIPLE complaints about harrasment to players (yes, children), coaches and players parents. The cop was way out of line. Durham is not a defencive coach, he is the HEAD COACH of the Jr. Pee Wees. He was also not arrested. I wish the press would get their facts straight before they print fiction.
I’m shocked actually. I am a property owner and can’t get an officer to come out to my property when dealing with unruly tenants who are disturbing the peace. It’s amazing what they (our law enforcement)will put their energy into or what they choose to make an issue out of. I guess confronting a coach in their community, among their peers and children of all ages far outweighs keeping the community safe from drug dealers, and violent offenders.
BTW…was the Officer finally able to issue that ticket? (sarcasm)
I have had problems with officer Randall as well, I was stopped for a “fix it ticket”. I have never had a speeding ticket or accident, but he was very hostile with me from the start. I explained to him that if I had something wrong to please explain why rather than just writting me a ticket and telling me “I was in violation of the law”. He became more and more animated during the time and it finally ended with him getting back in his car. Not wanting to risk getting another ticket for something trivial I stayed put until he left. He sat behind me for another 10 mins and finally got frustrated and left. From other stories I have heard this is a pattern with this officer and this is just the latest story.
John Doe,
Thank you for clarifying what type of coach he is. We know he was a defensive coach in the past and we were told he still was.
As for the arrest, he was arrested, according to the California Highway Patrol. However, he was not booked. Maybe you would like to get your facts right before saying the press doesn’t know what it is doing.
Kathryn Reed, LTN publisher
The coach and Pop Warner officials are creating drama. Police should be respected. The coach should have led by example. Discipline is a primary component of the game. At no time should a Coach be confrontational in front of kids. The Coach should be punished and the league officials should resign. If the officer was out of line, the CHP will handle that. Anyone who is fortunate enough to have the opportunity to provide leadership to young men and woman should lead by example!
What is the ‘Highway’ Patrol doing hanging around the high school writing parking tickets, inside the city limits? The high school is not even near a highway. Yet another overstaffed state agency, it can probably be presumed. Next time call the city parking patrol… and display of a Taser in a parking situation is overreaction.
Kae, I sure hope you can do this story justice. Reading the above comments, something has an unpleasant aroma.
Maybe even the Mt. News which I believe you still write for, could publish it.
I am not familiar with the officer involved but am familiar with Coach Durham’s antics. The above described behavior is the norm for Durham. I agree with the one comment that adults should lead by example. Durham does give a definite example of how NOT to behave. I’m surprised that he is still allowed to coach our impressionable youth.
This is the lamest thing I have heard in some time. The law enforcement in this town is ridiculous… The law enforcement officer should have left the field. Whst is he doing out there anyway? Was he going to cite someone illegally parked? He should have ticketed the illegal cars and walked away. To traumatize all those kids and parents, thats the crime. My family has been harassed for no reason by cops in this town. There is to many of them on the south shore. Save some money and fire half of them…
Concerned Parent, I think your take is the best of the comments here. The coaches should always remember that they are supposed to be good examples to the kids above all else and to start (or even engage in) a confrontation with law enforcement officers is just plain NOT acceptable in front of children. Not to mention stupid.
I was witness to the entire event. The officer was polite, couteous and exhibited extreme restraint. Several other parents witnessed the event and have given statements to the CHP in behalf of Officer Randall. Coach Durham was completely out of line. Scremaing and shouting at the top of his lungs. He approched the officer in a very violent manner. Coach Durham has a history of this kind of behavior and it is a travisty that the Pop Warner officals are supporting his arrogant and pathetic behavior. The officer has a son on one of the football teams and has every right to be there. Durham verbally attacked the officer immediately after he came on to the field. He was simply going to inform the league officials of the cars parked illeagaly as a courtesy, not in an official capacity. Both Durham and someone at Pop Warner should be disiplined for allowing one of their coaches to disobey and be disrespectful to a uniformed policeman in front of small children!
I too am familiar with Coach Durham’s antics. This is not the first time on a youth athletic field either. I too have seen him “explode” on several occasions over the past few years. He should not be allowed on the field at all, especially as a coach! How can the officials in Pop Warner back this kind of behavior? I wonder if the Pop Warner officials filed a complaint with the CHP to cover themselves from the ramifications of the behavior of one of their coaches. Thankfully the professionalism and restraint of the Highway Patrolman prevented any of the children from being possibly hurt. Obvioulsy, by coach Durham’s actions, he was not concerned for his players safety. Very sad!
It is very sad to see a Coach displaying this type of behaivor and having the kids watch. It is funny the good ole boys and girls club is giving a blind eye to what had happened. Durham should not be aloud to coach. If it were any other Coach that displayed this type of behaivor the board would have that Coach removed. But since the (Board) has Durhams wife as one of the Board members that will not happen. The Board always says: “It is about our kids”
Is it Really?
My children have played Pop Warner football for many years and I appreciate the coaches volunteering but I do wonder sometimes who they think they are and what gives them the right to behave the way they do. They have been known to yell at our kids and treat them in a very disrespectful manner in front of their peers but because they are “coaches” that is O.K. Pop Warner is supposed to endorse respectful behavior at all times. Whether or not this coach agreed with the Police Officer being on the field or not, under NO circumstances should he have been disrespectful. Although I have not dealt personally with Coach Durham I have heard from parents over the years about his “bullying” behavior. This coach should be disciplined or maybe even fired! We do not need this type of person setting negative examples for our children.
Dear Editor,
The article in your publication regarding Coach Durham and the CHP officer was brought to my attention today and there are a few inaccuracies stated in the article which I would like to bring to your attention.
1. Mr. Durham was not ” removed” from the field as stated in the article. He left on his own accord and was then subsequently arrested/detained by Officer Randall. This after refusing the officers commands to “stop” on numerous occasions.
2. Mr. Durham was belligerent towards the officer from the onset. When Office Randall first entered the field he was walking along the fence where other parents were standing and sitting, he was not on the field as stated or at all concerned with Mr. Durham or his team. Upon seeing the officer walk along the sideline, Mr. Durham started screaming and pointing at officer about where his truck was parked, apparently as he was upset with Officer Randall for pulling his wife over the previous evening. The irony is the officer simply gave his a wife a warning and she was not cited for running the stop sign at the entrance to the high school, not having current registration and not having her driver’s licence in her pocession.
It was after Mr. Durham screamed, at the top of his lungs, twice at the officer about where his “yellow truck” was parked (using the “f” word the second time) that the officer walked onto the practice area to ask Mr. Durham why he was shouting at him about his “yellow truck”.
3. It was then that Mr. Durham began screaming “not asking” the officer to leave the field. He shouted at the officer, turned his back, walked back to the children, turned back to the officer stomping closer, shouting again. This he repeated several times getting closer and closer each time. When Mr. Durham was approximately 20 feet from the officer, the officer began saying “stop”, while holding his right hand up palm open towards Mr. Durham. The officer said stop three or four times, but Mr. Durham kept stomping closer, while waving his arms in the air violently. It wasn’t until Mr. Durham was about 8-10 feet from the officer that the officer was compelled to remover his Taser gun, pointing it at Mr. Durham’s feet, to protect himself and others.
4. After another barrage of shouting by Mr. Durham he turned again, and walked away. This time disobeying the officers request to “please stop, I am not done talking with you”. Mr. Durham ignored him and continued towards the players on his team.
5. It was then that the officer backed away and called for back-up. Officer Randall exercised extreme constraint and was polite and talking calmly. He tried to calm the situation on several occasions, but Mr. Durham became more and more belligerent as time passed.
6. Practice was abruptly called to a stop early and the kids left the field, including Mr. Durham in the direction of the dirt lot where the officer and his patrol car were parked. Mr. Durham continued his aggressive behavior and continued shouting at the officer. It was then that the officer Hand cuffed Mr. Durham and put him his patrol car.
7. Several parents have provided statements to the CHP in support of the officer and with their disappointment of the coach and the league.
8. The fact that some of our local Pop Warner officials are condoning the total lack of respect for a uniformed peace officer by one of their coaches in the present of nearly 100 children and parents is appalling. The president of the league, Chuck Leonard, was standing next to the officer while the his coach was going balistic and did nothing and he made no attempt what so ever to calm down one of his coaches. He simply stood there watching and listening to Mr. Durham’s rant. Mr Durham’s wife is a board member, maybe that is why they are supporting the coaches actions and making false statements about the officer.
9. Officer Randall has be honored by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) for his efforts arresting drunk drivers and should be commended as a valuable asset to our community.
Thank you for reporting on this event, it needs to be brought to the attention of our community, so that it will never occur again for the safety of our children.
It is the opinion of many that Mr. Durham should be at a minimum immediately be put on admistrative leave if not suspended indefinately.
John Doe,
The parent you mentioned only spoke with the officer to give his contact info which the officer requested. This was after the officer put his Taser gun away and called for back-up. He had no conversation with the officer before hand. For you to imply he was responsible in any way for the officers or the coaches actions is ridiculous. He was an innocent bystander whom I’m told is also upset at the coaches complete lack of control. As Ms. Reed stated to you before, get your facts right before making statements.
Wow, this is really sad that this has gone on for so long. Sports are suppose to be a fun way to compete, work as a team, learn how to play by the rules, etc, etc.
Sounds like the coach should be suspended for a period of time, and have some anger management training to see if he can change his behavior.
I thought this kind of behavior was long gone from our society, I guess not :(
I have always believed and have taught my children to respect all uniformed officers. This officer Randall is a disgrace. Officer Randall was asked by pop warner to not come to the field any longer because a few days prior to this incident he cornered, threatened, and scared a player. Pop Warner had ever right to suspend the officer from the field. As parents we do not want a man lke this around our children. Durham can get hot headed at times but he acted calmer than I have ever seen him act. Officer Randall came to retaliate by giving parents parking tickets. Durham had every right to ask him to get off the field. Officer Randall was the one acting crazy. He pulled out a taser gun and then put Durham into handcuffs in front of all the players. My concern is ONLY for the children. I know that mine were scared out of their minds. They could not understand why he was doing this to their coach for doing nothing but protecting them. Durham sat in the back of the police car until Officer Randall was ordered to release him. Again this man is a disgrace. Our children deserve better.
That cop was outta line and shouldnt have been there. You cant respect an officer that doesnt respect you or your family / players. That cop should not have been there and there was other stuff going on between the cop and the coach that was personal like stuff between kids and spouses. That cop used lowsy judgement and the coach, well, he is a football coach, they all are emotionally charged, fired up people, especially on the field. Football is not like yoga or basket weaving., its hard and physical. Fire that cop, he should not be driving the streets in this town or representing the law. Why is CHP there anyway? They were on a field, not the highway. Fishy stuff goin on here, I can smell it…
Pop Warner dad has no idea what was going on. This officer was there to abuse his power and scare parents and kids. Officer Randall while off duty had confronted other players not coaches but young kids. He used intimidation and scare tactics on these kids. This is why he was asked to leave the field. So he showed up in uniform thinking he could get around what was asked of him (to stay away from the field). Coach Durham was acting in the best intrest of the kids and I thank him for that. At no time did coach Durham raise his voice or disrespect the Officer. All he did was hold his ground and try to protect the children involved.
Pop Warner Dad’s description of the coaches behavior is accurate. The entire team was witness to Coach Durham’s unexcusable behavior. His shouting at the officer was so loud it was heard from parents on several teams, some who were on the far side of the other field. The boys on his team were front and center, children rarely lie, unless they are directed to by their parents. Has any one but myself thought to ask the boys what they thought of their coach screaming at a police man. Those of you that did not witness the event first hand should not attemp to comment on what occured. Stating your opinion is one thing, but trying to hide or cover up the facts will not serve any purpose. The CHP has the entire event on an audio tape. The coaches comments as well as the league officials comments, both on and off the field were recorded. The truth will soon come out. The issue is not why the officer was there, it is the very disturbing behavior of someone who was entrusted to be a role model to our children. No one should condone disrespecting a law enforcement officer in the presence of children, regardless of why he was there, especially the coaches or the leagues administrators. The statement from “parent” that the officer’s motive in being there that evening was to scare the parents and the children is ridiculous.
This so story is so ridiculous!!! Has anyone looked into why this officer has been transfereed 8 times in last 10 years for similiar ridiculous intimidation, trying to use his uniform to bully people & children!! This coach should be thanked for the patience he tried to have while being wrongfully accused, does anyone know how hard these coaches work for these kids!! That officer had no business being on field, he tried to use his authority to abuse parents & children in numureous occasions!! This officer should be fired for this conduct!!!
Absolutely unbelievable the idiocy of these parents that believe it is “ok” for anyone (let alone a coach) to disrespect law enforcement! And where exactly are these people (talking to you MOM) getting their “facts” about an officer’s prior complaint record and how many times they’ve transferred…which is not open for public scrutiny. The California Highway Patrol is the State’s law enforcement agency and, last time I checked, the City of South Lake Tahoe is still within the borders of the State of California. This officer has every right to enforce the laws anywhere in this state; which includes the football field for those ignorant fools who still think “jurisdiction” means the city cops can only enforce laws in the city limits and the highway patrol merely writes speeding tickets on the highways and changes tires for little old ladies! Officer Randall had every right to be there and to enforce parking laws because he is a sworn peace officer! And this fool Durham thought it would be ok to verbally attack a peace officer in front of children and other parents?! And you people are backing this moron??!! What is wrong with you??!! This guy is supposed to be a role model for your children for Christ’s sake!! Kind of funny that half the parents that were actually there during the incident believe the officer was right and the other half think the coach was right. Sounds like ike the half that believe the coach was right have been in trouble with the law before and this is their way of getting back at cops. And Officer Randall had every right to pull his taser. It’s a tool given to cops to effect compliance with uncooperative persons. Whether it is actually used or just threatened use, it was completely within this officer’s departmental policies to use it and exactly in the manner which he used it! You people that are siding with that coach should be ashamed of yourselves! Not just for backing a man that can’t keep his composer in front of your children, but for having children in the first place….because now you’re well on your way to grooming the next generation of ignorance.
Sounds like your the ignorant one FUWI.. That cop should be fired!! Coach Durham is a model citizen and contriutor to our youth. This cop is an idiot!! He went from the doughnut shop to the ball field with an agenda and most you cop lovers bought in on it. Maybe not all… Whos ignorant?? Im fed up with it…
Mr. local were you there to witness this?no, so don’t talk about you view untell you get your facts straight.We were there and Mr.Durham is a adult bully.
Admin, now that more information has been published, it is very clear that Jim Durham was NOT arrested like I said in my previous post. He was detained and released. No charges have been filed as of yet. For the other people that responded to my post, I was there, I saw it all and heard it all. The “parent”, DID go up to the officer after Durham told the CHP to leave the field and before Leanord came over. I heard what this X-coach said to the CHP and it did nothing but stir up a hornets nest. There were several other parents there as well and we all heard the same thing. The CHP went to the parent AFTER the tazer incident and then requested his contact information. Some of my best friends are LEOs and we have talked about this event and all I can say is wait and watch. I hope your crow tasts good because you are going to be eating a lot of it.
Youth football is to be fun and to get young kids interested in the game and keep them interested. There are many factors in this equation and I can see that things could have been handled in a better mannor on both ends. This is a buch of (he said, she said) and I hope this all goes away and the kids can be kids and have fun. Come on adults, this is about the kids, not your egos…..
what was the officer doing there? Does he have a child on a team? Did he come to tell people they were parked illegally before tickets were issued?
Come on all you “witnesses”, why was the officer there and why did the coach blow up?
The officer did have his child on a team but pulled him off the team after not being allowed himself to go to the fields. The officer (while off duty) got in a players face on 08/28/10 The officer was suspended from the field. I believe he came to the field that Tuesday night to abuse his power and intimidate. He never issued any parking tickets. Coach Durham had every right to tell him to get off the field especialy not knowing if the officer would scare any more children. Which he for sure did. I’m not sure about anyone else but my child was so scared when he came home that night after seeing a police officer pull out his tazor (he thought it was a gun) and then arrest his coach for he himself felt was no reason for. I feel sick that this is happening. I wish everyone could get along and just play and coach football. Start acting like adults.
The last comment by (parent) is 100% correct. I didnt know how much more I could say on here but yes, the CHP was off duty and did get in a 11 year old players face about how hard he was hitting his son. Uncalled for. You want to talk about an adult bully. I think that since he was in uniform, he thought he could skate around his suspension. Not so. But like I said before and a quote by Rodney King……”Cant we all just get along” This is a small town and we all know everybody. Our kids are going to school with eachother, we see eachother around town several times a week…….let it go, lets play nice.
As a high school coach for the last 12 years I have seen plenty of good and bad coaching. Likewise, in my other career I have been able to hear the good and bad from law enforcement professionals (both critiquing their peers and the actions of others). I seem to agree with a previous post that most of these posts are either “anti-police” or “anti-coach” and therein lies their bias. Since I wasn’t there I won’t pretend to know what actually happened. It really doesn’t matter…
I think the larger issue is, how would you like your sons/daughters or the student-athletes you coach to behave if they were in a similar situation. I grew up in an environment that when a law enforcement officer asked you questions you answered in the most polite or respectful way possible. I believe that for some unknown reason “sir sandwiches” started flying out of my mouth. I never once would think, “this professional has no right to ask me questions…I didn’t do anything wrong”. I realize that we live in a different society now and that none of us should blindly follow along like sheep. But, lets just say that in some bizarro world that the fact that this officer was allegedly “transferred 8 times” or that he had “a personal beef with the league” or “that this coach’s wife had received a warning the night before” makes it ok for us to disregard the fact that this officer was on duty and in uniform…If all that was true the lesson to the players is “challenge law enforcement and you are somehow going to be seen as a hero”. Let’s just say that Mr. Durham was being unfairly persecuted on that day. What would it have hurt him to comply with any order that the officer gave him. What would it have taught his players to see their coach act within society’s current standards and show respect (whether it was warranted or not). Imagine the teaching point he could use afterwards…(assuming the officer was out of line)”boys the police officer asked me to step aside from practice and although there was no real good reason for him to do that, I did it because that is what we should do.” OR “Honestly boys I wanted to throw a tantrum and flip out, but I decided to take the high road and “out-professional” the professional.”
I have learned in the last 12 years that all players watch their coaches intently to see how they react to situations. Sometimes we will have a call go against us and I will turn and look at my team and find they are watching me and not the game. I am by no means perfect, but I feel that it teaches the players much more to explain to them later what you wanted to do or say as a coach/mentor (what you were feeling or how “fired up” you were) and then let them contrast that with how you actually acted (keeping your composure, talking in a civil manner, or saying nothing). Regardless of who is right or wrong, what did the coach teach his players in this instance?
How come everybody seems to know who the so called parent is but nobody will say his/her name? It seems odd that out of all the parents that were there that night, everybody knows who this (one) parent is. Does this parent have a history of acting out and is it a given that we all should automaticly know who it is?
Viking Coach,
VERY WELL PUT! In my past coaching experience I have also been guilty of not living up to the responsibility that was entrusted to me as it pertains to coaching youth and acting accordingly (as have many when passion gets the best of us), and your comment puts it in to perspective very nicely! The best policy in these situations is to take a step back and take a deep breath. Let’s hope all the players in this drama take your advice to heart and move on for the sake of the kids.
Viking Coach,
Well said, offering law enforcement the benifit of the doubt, acting courteously, showing respect and doing what an officer asks us to do was how most of us were raised. Unfortunatley the coach must have felt he was above the law and it is acceptable to “throw a tantrem and flip out” as that is exactly what he did. That in itself is uunexcusable. To act that way in the presence of his team is beyond comprehension. He should be at a minimum repremanded or suspended and if indeed the league president is supporting this kind of behavior, he too should be fired. This is not an example of the type of behavior I want my children to witness, especailly from a coach!
Did anyone ever think that maybe the coach and the league were trying to protect the players from the officer? I’m all for giving respect to law enforcement, but sometimes you can’t just be a sheep and have to do your part to protect this town and it’s children. Thanks coach for protecting your players from further bullying.
Wow, those volunteering their time to coach should think twice. I know a coach is often up for grabs and shots because there is always the disgruntled but this is a whole new level. Being a coach leaves one open for that and a coach often gets attacked but this is bad. Kind of vicious towards someone who gives their time to the kids.
OMG. It really does not matter what was said or not, NO ONE (even Pop Warner Coaches) should challenge a Police Officer, whether on duty or not. Our children need to know that they should respect the law, whether they agree or not. Coach Durham was out of line, and if his wife is on the Pop Warner board, she needs to recuse herself and not have anything to do with hearing what the witnesses have to say. She should not be involved with ANYTHING to do with this investigation. Pop Warner needs to suspend Coach Durham until this situation has been settled. POP WARNER COACHES NEED TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE, and whatever the reason the Coach did not lead by example with his behavior. Tahoe is a small town, and the board is “stacked” to go along with what this coach did. I am personally going to contact the league head for Western NV & Northern CA.
Remember the elementary school game where a phrase is passed on secretly from one child to the next around the classroom until it gets back to the person who started, and it never resembles what was started? How can numerous parents see the same incident and have such differing recollations?
I am on the Pop Warner Board and until the investigation is over and all statements received, Mr Durham is being allowed to continue as Head Coach and is on a probation.
We regret this entire incident has happened and we are growing from it. We are working with the CHP during their investigation as well. Please dont condemn the entire league based on this incident. We are an improving product, the kids and coaching staffs are putting in a tremendous amount of effort to learn and play football to the best of their ability. Please continue to support them!
I am a 58 year old, 98 lb grandmother of 6 and I was arrested at my home at 8:20 am on a Thursday by a CHP who was called out to “check” into at a utility trailer in my driveway…one of 5 my contractor son had. After answering multiple (for which I have a witness) questions fully and offered to contact my son I was arrested at MY BACKDOOR, IN MY BACKYARD, BEHIND MY 8′ gate (4th amendment)because the CHP didn’t believe that I DIDN’T STEAL THE UTILITY TRAILER. It was said I gave up my rights when I opened my door. Did you know that? I certainly didn’t especially since all I wanted to do was assist the officers who came into my backyard because what ever they were there for was important and I wanted to be a good citizen…that’s all…be a good citizen.
I was arrested for resisting arrest and possession of stolen property; because I hesitated coming outside of my home at the DEMAND of the officer; in my PJ’s, because I was also on the phone with a business call I had asked permission to end. This whole conversation tool less than 10 seconds before the assault began and again…I have a witness. The trailer was not hidden and in plain view and a friend of my son’s brought it there and dropped it off, during the time I was in recuperation caused by surgery for major foot repair…I had not left my home for over a month. I am currently in federal court suing the CHP and the state. So far the judge has decided the 3 previous complaints against my attacker CHP officer can not be told to the jury because it might prejudiced them? Can not be told he is from a violent family with a brother who had in 09′ murdered two people because it might prejudice them, that I was never charged because it might prejudice them, that I have no record because it might prejudice them…oh by the way, the officer was 6’4″ and 250, testified to in federal depositions and said he was never afraid of my 5’3″ 98lb stature….but he needed to use pepper spray on me while he was pulling me from my home. AND yes…I have proof of every word, the partner (a rookie, on his FIRST day of duty, in training) of the attacker (and a paid training officer) saw the incident exactly as I felt it…still…the attacker is given immunity because maybe he thought it was ok to go into a federally protected portion of my home; we are appealing but if I didn’t have money your 4th amendment would be gone…who knows…it still might be.
You people saying the coach is a jerk…that may be…take it up with the association who he coaches for. DO NOT GIVE the CHP or any other law enforcement department authority they do not have. CHP will and often does break the law to continue bully tactics used to intimidate. You can see and find thousands of cases against them…you just can’t find any decisions because the settle out of court to stop any changes to policy. That way they can (and do) continue with the tactics used to intimidate and harass the public to submission. If you have a problem with someone, rationally handle it and keep the law away from it as much as possible, they have far too much authority now and each time you call them you give them more. If they just show up and use that authority without cause…can you see the problem here? IF not you need to look closer; you are missing a very important point that they are bullies. You sit there with your heads in the sand and until it happens to you you think you’re well taken care of. Guess again, you are just one Hollywood stop away from arrest and abuse.
Law enforcement agencies are given more weapons rather than required to answer for the weapons they use when not necessary…yet…they still can’t stop the gangs…just you and I who can’t seem to keep our foot off the gas petal.
Cops are bullies with badges and they are a gang of their own, their gang color is just a bit of a different shade of blue. Hopefully you’ll never see it up close and personal but when you do…don’t say you were never warned.
BTW..I am an executive person with an higher than average income, my home was on a golf course and it didn’t matter to this cop…don’t think because you drive a luxury car or live in a nice home it can’t or won’t happen to you or someone in your family. It can and it will one day…law of averages!