Closing arguments tomorrow in pepper spray by Q tip trial

For immediate release
April 25, 2005

Pepper Spray By Q-Tip Trial Will Go To Jury This Week
Closing Arguments Expected Tuesday

Contact: Karen Pickett, 510-548-3113

Background and legal documents available at
http://www.nopepperspray.org. Press packets including video footage
and courtroom drawings are available through the above number

San Francisco-Attorneys for the Plaintiffs in the Pepper Spray civil
rights case in federal court rested their case at the end of last
week. Attorneys say they expect to make their closing statements on
Tuesday, after witnesses for the Defense testify on Monday.

Meanwhile, interest remains high in Humboldt County where the liquid
pepper spray swabbing took place in 1997 in the course of the
Headwaters Forest campaign. A poll in the Eureka Reporter newspaper
asked the question: Is swabbing pepper spray around the eye a good
idea?

66.03 % of people said No [Swabbing pepper spray around the eye is
NOT a good idea]; 33.97 % said Yes. (See
<http://www.eurekareporter.com/poll.asp>)

The witnesses expected to be called by the defense include:

… Humboldt Sheriff Sgt. Pete Ciarabellini, head of the Earth First!
Response Team
… Eureka Police Sgt. James Manos, who gave the command for pepper
spray use at the sit-in at Congressman Riggs' office
… Sheriffs' Deputy Roy Reynolds, from the Special Response Team, has
used methods alternative to pepper spray, namely an electric grinder
to safely extract protesters using the "lock box" devices used by
Headwaters Forest activists at the sit-ins in 1997.
… Sheriffs' Deputy Phillip Daastol who has also used the grinder tool
to get protesters out of nearly one hundred lock boxes with not one
injury to activist or officer, as he previously testified.
… Sheriffs' Deputy Randy Held has also responded to forest protests
when demonstrators have locked themselves in.
… Rhonda Pelligrini, aide at Congressman Riggs' office when the
sit-in occurred.
… Don Cameron, Defense's police practices expert



Court sessions are at the S.F. Federal Building (450 Golden Gate
Ave., room 10, 19th floor) before the Hon. Susan Illston.
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