California cop accused of assault with a deadly weapon

On Behalf of | Oct 9, 2017 | criminal defense |

It takes about a full work day to make the drive north from Manhattan Beach to the modest Northern California city of Rocklin. The Placer County site is where a police officer was arrested on accusations that he beat a drunk driving suspect with a baton.

The officer was taken to the county jail on charges that include assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily harm, assault under the color of authority and filing a false police report, the Los Angeles Times reported.

According to the Times’ article, the 41-year-old officer and other officers arrested a man on a charge of driving under the influence. The city’s police chief said the officer “used a baton in a manner that appeared to be excessive.”

Apparently other officers who were there when the arrest was made expressed concern to superiors about the alleged incident. The police chief said that after he reviewed video taken with patrol and body cams that he asked the Placer County district attorney to investigate the officer’s conduct during the incident.

After a review of the evidence, the district attorney’s office said that the cop’s actions “rose to a criminal level” and the charges were filed.

The man who was arrested for DUI was taken to a hospital for treatment of unspecified, non-life-threatening injuries. The Times states that after he was cleared at the hospital, he was booked in jail on a DUI charge, as well as resisting arrest.

A police department spokesperson said he was not sure if the officer has an attorney.

In matters such as this one, it’s imperative for a police officer charged with wrongdoing to speak as soon as possible with a criminal defense attorney experienced in law enforcement defense.