Usually, detailed explanations of police encounters are reserved for the courtroom, months if not years after the fact, with only a few noteworthy remarks in a press release immediately following the incident.
However, late Friday evening, the Vanguard received an unusually detailed description from the Davis Police Department of an incident that had happened two nights before on May 23rd, at approximately 10:00PM.
At that time, Davis Police Officers were dispatched to Glacier Drive in response to the report of a physical fight.
It is important to bear in mind that the descriptions here are only those of the police and that we have not heard the other side of the story.
The police were responding to a 911 call in which the caller reported observing a male and a female in an argument and then a physical confrontation. The reporting party gave specific clothing and physical descriptions of both the male and female involved, according to Davis Police sources.
As officers arrived, they observed two people (subsequently identified as Tatiana Bush and Jerome Wren) who matched the description provided by the reporting party. Officers attempted to detain and separate the two so they could investigate.
According to the police, “Wren refused to follow the Officer’s commands and became argumentative. When the officers attempted to physically detain him, Wren resisted the officer by pushing them.”
The press release continues, “Officers wrestled with Wren and were able to restrain him, handcuff him, and place him in the back seat of a patrol car.”
During this time, the Davis Police Officers were struggling to get Mr. Wren under control. In the meantime, Ms. Bush also interfered with the police’s efforts.
“Despite numerous requests for her to keep her distance and not interfere, Tatiana Bush interfered by physically placing herself in close proximity to the struggle,” the police report.
Her efforts to intervene were so substantial that the police describe, “At one point, Bush was so close she became pinned in between the struggling officers, Wren, and a police car.”
Nor did Mr. Wren calm down once he was arrested and seated in the back of the police vehicle.
Somehow he managed, in the back seat of the patrol car, to escape from his handcuffs, kick the door open and assault one of the officers.
The obvious question here is how he managed to do that.
The police report, “Wren pushed the officer, and ultimately punched the officer in the face with his fist. After a more significant struggle than the first [time], the officers were only able to subdue Wren by using a Taser. He was subsequently transported and lodged at the Yolo County Jail.”
In the meantime, Ms. Bush was arrested and released on a citation for interfering with police officers.
The police report, “In accordance with Davis Police Department policy, a review of the force used in this incident and an internal investigation into policy compliance are already under way.”
The police have an audio recording of the incident, along with partial police video recordings.
“All information and evidence available will be analyzed by internal investigators to provide as complete a picture as possible of this incident and all of the factors contributing to its development and outcome,” they report.
The Vanguard will be monitoring to see if this case ends up in Yolo Superior Court and what the ultimate charges are.
—David M. Greenwald reporting
Sounds like the officers used the TASER way too late in the process.
[quote]Somehow he managed, in the back seat of the patrol car, to escape from his handcuffs, kick the door open and assault one of the officers.[/quote]
It is possible the handcuffs didn’t lock properly when the police struggled to get the combative guy into the car. Secondly, individuals have been known to lift entire cars in emergency situations if the adrenaline is pumping…
This entire incident just goes to show how difficult policing can be. It is probably a good thing the police intervened, or Ms. Bush might be in the hospital by now…
The fact that Ms. Bush stupidly intervened is no surprise, and is typical of many domestic violence situations…
[quote]”The obvious question here is how he managed to do that.”[/quote]For me, the obvious question in [u]why[/u] he did that? People who choose to physically resist police rank high on the list of “not too bright.”
Your story implies there’s a mistaken identity problem here; did the police reporting suggest that? In any case, one would think Davis officers will take more care handcuffing even if they’re having trouble with another person at the same time.
Nothing police say can be trusted, that’s the one thing that’s for sure.
“Internal investigations” by any police agency are merely an exercise in choosing the best cover-up story for themselves; or an “outside agency”
is selected to make it appear that a neutral investigation was done. But
law enforcement takes care of its own.
Your title says two people were tasered, but your story states that only one was…. nice sensationalism. Got me to read it. I might not have read it if the headline stated that only one person was tasered.
[quote]”Internal investigations” by any police agency are merely an exercise in choosing the best cover-up story for themselves; or an “outside agency”
is selected to make it appear that a neutral investigation was done. But
law enforcement takes care of its own.[/quote]
Any internal investigation is always “suspect” (pardon the pun), no matter what agency, business or entity is doing its own internal investigation…
Let’s ask city council members to get involved such that another corrupt Davis coverup is recorded.