Toughest Ten: Pressing Art Pimentel on the Shooting of a Farm Worker in Woodland
The Vanguard sat down with Woodland Vice Mayer Art Pimentel on Monday and pressed him on issues revolving around the death of Luis Gutierrez. It was not originally intended to be a Toughest Ten segment, but became one.
Can you describe the latest that you know about the circumstances around the death of Mr. Gutierrez?
In terms of what I know, unfortunately a young man is dead. There was an incident between Sheriff’s Deputies, the Gang Task Force in Woodland and there’s an investigation going on. That’s what I know now. I don’t have any evidence or know any facts yet. I think like everybody else, I’m waiting for the investigation to take place. The evidence will be collected by the Woodland Police Department and turned over to the District Attorney’s Office. That’s what I know right now.
The family of Ricardo Abrahams has filed suit against the City of Woodland, the Police Officers involved in the incident, and Taser International. Mr. Abrahams died in May of 2008 following an incident where he was shot multiple times with “Taser” electrical guns, hit with metal batons, and the police eventually tackled him to the ground.
A generation ago in 1961, President John F. Kennedy exhorted the country to take out a new spirit of public service as a new generation took the helm of the United States. Inspired by his call to action, many young Americans would span out across the globe in the Peace Corps and at home came calls for social justice, racial equality, and eventually peace. 
Every year I have written a special essay on Martin Luther King Day. I usually pick a lesser known Martin Luther King speech to reflect on. At the MLK Dinner last Thursday, I heard an excerpt from the 1967 speech, “Why I Am Opposed to the War in Vietnam.”
