Attorneys representing a homeless man who was beaten by two Fresno police officers during a videotaped arrest in February have filed a lawsuit against the Police Department in federal court.
Glen Beaty, 53, had been sleeping under a tree near Blackstone and Bullard avenues when Sgt. Jeffrey Gross and officer Scott Payn checked on his welfare. They ended up arresting Beaty, who has a history of mental illness.
In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Fresno, Beaty's attorneys say officers had no reason to use force. The suit names the officers, Chief Jerry Dyer and the city as defendants.
Beaty's attorneys, Russell Cook and Peter Kapetan, are seeking damages for his injury and a reform of police practices. The Police Department could not be reached to comment.
Police
Info on assault suspect is sought
The Fresno County Sheriff's Office is asking the public's help in finding Fabian Gonzalez, 23, of Fresno -- also known as Jesus Gonzalez -- who is wanted on suspicion of assault.
Sheriff's spokesman Chris Curtice said he also is on parole for felony weapons and narcotics charges.
On Oct. 13, Gonzalez allegedly went to the Fresno County Welfare office at 4455 E. Kings Canyon Road, where his wife was a client. Her name was not made public. Gonzalez allegedly yelled at his wife and attempted to fire a small handgun at her, but the gun malfunctioned. He ran from the office.
Gonzalez is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 200 pounds and has gang tattoos of "SF" on the left side of his neck and a paw print on his lower right arm.
He was last seen driving a green 1998 Ford Explorer, California license plate 4ARB271. Curtice said Gonzalez should be considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information can call the Sheriff's Office at (559) 488-3111 or CrimeStoppers at (559) 498-7867.
Teen, 13, robbed at NW Fresno bus stop
A 13-year-old was robbed at a bus stop Wednesday in northwest Fresno, police reported.
The boy said he was at the stop near Shaw and Marks avenues about 6:30 a.m. when two men wearing hoods forced him to turn over cash and an iPod. He returned home and his mother contacted police.
The boy said the men fled in a black car that looked like a Camaro. Officers are searching for the vehicle.
Mailboxes destroyed in North Fork area
Vandals destroyed nearly 40 mailboxes Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning in the North Fork area, the Madera County Sheriff's Department said.
The only piece of evidence deputies have at this time centers on two vehicles seen in the area as the vandalism was happening.
One of the vehicles is described as a dark colored Honda Sedan, the other a white station wagon.
Streets targeted during the crime spree include: Roads 426, 223, 226, 221, 200, Sun Crest Drive, Skyline Drive, Pahuma and Kowana lanes. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Department at (559) 675-7770 or (800) 560-4911.
Also ...
Mariposa Co. buys rescue equipment
The Mariposa County Fire Department has purchased lifesaving equipment, thanks to a $238,072 traffic safety grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
The grant funded tools for rescuers to quickly remove injured drivers and passengers. It also helped purchase automated defibrillator devices and stabilization tools.
The equipment is much-needed, Fire Chief Jim Wilson said, and firefighters can now handle large-scale crashes more effectively. Prior to the grant, there were no heavy rescue tools anywhere in the county.
Donated toys sought for Christmas gifts
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