Month: March 2012

Twelve individuals involved in the protest and blockade of US Bank, that ultimately led to the bank closing its UC Davis Branch, were mailed letters from the Yolo County DA’s office, ordering them to appear on misdemeanor charges, according to Claudia Morain, spokesperson for UC Davis.

The Vanguard has learned that arraignment will take place on April 27, focusing on two charges – a misdemeanor to “willfully and maliciously” obstruct the free movement of any person on any street, sidewalk or other public place, or to intentionally interfere with any lawful business, and a conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor.

The Vanguard learned this morning from UC Davis Spokesperson Claudia Morain that the Yolo County District Attorney has sent letters to twelve protestors who were allegedly involved in the protest and blocking at the Memorial Union of US Bank.  They have been ordered to appear at an arraignment and face misdemeanor charges.

Despite the illustration of the absurdity of attempting to protect the names of officers already in the public domain, Judge Evelio Grillo has ordered the release of the full report with redaction of names of specific officers not already named, as Lt. John Pike and Police Chief Annette Spicuzza have been named, but has stayed the release until April 20, 2012 to allow the attorneys for the Police Officer’s Union to appeal to an appellate court.

University of California General Counsel Charles Robinson said after the ruling on Wednesday, “We are pleased that Judge Grillo agrees, in almost every respect, with our arguments for full public disclosure of reports from the task force chaired by former California Supreme Court Associate Justice Cruz Reynoso. While he also ordered names of some police officers in the reports to be redacted, we would like that information ultimately to be made public.”

Vanguard Article Added to Filings From UC, Arguing For the Release of the Name

Last week, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Evelio M. Grillo issued an order that in part denied the motion of the attorneys for Lt. John Pike and the Federated University Police Officers Association to prevent the release of the report known as the Reynoso and Kroll reports.  The judge set a new hearing for today, where motions will continue to attempt to seal court records.

The positions of both sides remain unchanged.  Attorneys for the officers’ union argue that the report amounts to the release of confidential personnel records under Penal Code section 832.7.  The University responds that these reports were not commissioned for the purpose of discipline and therefore do not fall under the Penal Code’s auspices.

There has been much effort spent, both in attempting to identify and attempting to prevent disclosure of the identity of the second officer who was an active participant in the pepper spraying of protesters on the UC Davis Quad, November 18, 2011.

The image of Lt. John Pike has become an “internet meme” emblazoned across the nation, and indeed around the world, as a symbol of this event.  However, efforts to keep the second officer’s identity secret have been strong, in part because of fear of harassment, threat and retaliation.

While UC Davis and the Davis community patiently await the findings from the report investigating the November 18 pepper spraying of students on the Quad on the UC Davis campus, a report emerged last week that threw gasoline on the situation at Berkeley.

The author himself acknowledged that his findings are controversial, while protesters dismissed the report, stating: “This is isn’t an analysis, it’s propaganda. It sounds like a tactical handbook for warfare against students.”

The university has come under fire this week for their handling of the protests blocking U.S. Bank, that ultimately led to the bank attempting to get out of their ten-year contract and vacating the spot.

At a town hall meeting, Vice Chancellor John Meyer addressed campus staff and described the campus’s patient, measured responses to the brief occupation of the former Cross Cultural Center and the almost daily blockade of the U.S. Bank branch in the Memorial Union.