Date of Incident: July 4, 2000, 4:14 PM
Received: Tuesday, July 11, 19100 at 23:52:29

FULL DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED IN YOUR OWN WORDS:
 
 
There was an ongoing first amendment activity:  protesting
television for Independence Day.  The group had marched to
Blockbuster where a few individuals smashed televisions
on the sidewalk (their own televisions, which they swept
up afterwards).  There was a bike cart playing "The Revolution
will not be televised" which left the scene and was being
walked at the right side of Durant, eastbound, far down the 
block.  A police car zeroed in on them and followed them
closely, then blared his horn, then came around to the side.
 
The officer began speaking to them through his window.  I
came up on his passenger side from behind, and then discussed
the issue with him.  He wanted the music turned off, which
it was.  He then wanted everyone on the curb.  I asked what
was illegal about standing at the side of that road
(which is very wide), pointing out that people have
to stand there to get into their cars. 
 
The officer ordered me to stop and said he would be giving me
a citation.  He didn't answer my question. I passed off my
camcorder to a fellow CopWatcher.
 
A large number of police vehicles showed up.  The officer
claimed I had "failed to yield" to his car.  This is impossible
as I was behind or beside his car, never in front of it.
 
He issued me a citation.  During the process he told
his sergeant that "this guy's being a jerk".  All I did
was ask a question.
 
The people with the bike cart walked away, fortunately they
didn't also suffer a false citation.
 
I informed the officer that I would fight and beat my ticket,
that I would file a complaint, and that I hoped he would be
showing up in court.
 
 
 
Were you the victim? Yes
Were you a witness?
 
Date of incident: July 4th, 2000
Day of the week: Tuesday
Time of day: About 4:14 PM
AM or PM? PM
Weather conditions: Sunny, clear
Raining? No 
Dark, dusk/dawn, or light out?
Location(s) of incident: In front of Burrito parlor Durant west of Telegraph
Street address:
City: Berkeley, CA
Country: USA
 
Individuals involved:
 
Witness names:
Officer names: About 5-6 BPD and UCPD officers and their cars and motorcycle
Officer badge numbers: 
 
Was anyone arrested or ticketed? Yes
Who? Myself
Were they taken into custody? No
What was the charge?  CVC 21954(a), "Pedestrian in Roadway"
Infraction, Misdemeaner, or Felony? Infraction 
 
Identity of aggressor/attacker/perpetrator of abuse: Officer Pajon #145, BPD
License plate number(s):
Badge number(s): 145
 
Was anyone injured? no
Who?
Hospitalized?
What were their injuries?
How did their injuries occur? 

FULL DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE INCIDENT IN YOUR OWN WORDS:
 
I briefed the crowd as to police procedure and 
civil rights, and explained from my perspective
what had just happened and what the officer had
done wrong.
 
One woman said she was very impressed at how
I had handled myself.  I told her she can get
CopWatch training as well, and that everyone
should have it.