Legal observer falsely arrested on Critical Mass ride.

Date of incident: June 26, 1998 Received: Saturday, August 8, 1998 at 15:17:21

Complaint filed?  Soon!
With whom?
Against whom?
What was the result?

Did any injuries heal?
How long until they healed?

Were there permanent injuries or fatality?

Was there legal action on behalf of the victim?

What was the result?


FULL DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE INCIDENT IN YOUR OWN WORDS:

I was taken to jail and my bike impounded.  When I got my bike
out, my historic Citadel lock (15 years old!) was missing.


IncidentDescription: DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT:

Were you the victim?  Yes
Were you a witness?

Time of day:  Evening
AM or PM?
Weather conditions: Sunny
Raining?
Dark, dusk/dawn, or light out?  Light
Location(s) of incident: Van Ness
Street address:
City:
Country: USA

Individuals involved:  Me and some TAC cops

Witness names:  A bunch
Officer names: FAVETTI
Officer badge numbers:

Was anyone arrested or ticketed? Yes
Who?
What was the charge?
Infraction, Misdemeaner, or Felony? Misdemeanor "failure to obey"
which was soon dropped

Identity of aggressor/attacker/perpetrator of abuse:
License plate number(s):
Badge number(s): 437 (?)

Was anyone hospitalized?
Who?
What were their injuries?  Yes, me, in custody by a cop trying to cut
my handcuffs off.  He cut my skin deeply with his cutters.

FULL DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED IN YOUR OWN WORDS:

It was the June Critical Mass ride.  The governor had just
signed AB 2038 for the west span bike path, so it was
truly "Bicycle Celebration Day". 

Suddenly on Van Ness, the police made a "gauntlet", police along
both sides of the street for many blocks.  They were pulling people
over left and right, frequently for non-violations.

I stopped to help a cyclist.  I was acting as a legal observer with a
camera.  Favetti immediately ordered me to keep moving.  I informed
him that I had a right to observe.  He walked over to me and grabbed
my camera, putting it and my hand into a copmliance hold.  I was then
handcuffed and arrested.

I had been out of the way of moving traffic (police had blocked the
right lane and I was near parked cars in front of their vehicles).
I was completely within the general orders of the SFPD regarding
the RIGHTS OF ONLOOKERS.