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Indybay Feature

Harassment Jury Trial of Donna Deiss for "Resisting Arrest"

Date:
Monday, May 18, 2009
Time:
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Event Type:
Court Date
Organizer/Author:
Robert Norse
Email:
Phone:
831-423-4833
Address:
309 Cedar PMB #14B Santa Cruz 95060
Location Details:
701 Ocean St. Department 1

Elderly disabled activist Donna Deiss goes to trial for "resisting arrest" in a trial likely to last several days. Deiss is a short, older woman half the weight of the police sergeant who broke her arm and then charged her with "resisting arrest".

Details on the false arrest can be found in earlier stories:

"60 Year Old Homeless Wolman Says Police Broke Her Arm"
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/05/10/18498341.php

and

"Sgt. LeMoss #114 Santa Cruz PD breaks arm of 60 year old disabled woman without cause"
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/05/14/18499096.php

Meanwhile, LeMoss, the sergeant who broke Deiss's arm, is still rolling merrily along on the police force. The trial, in my opinion, is a cover so the city can try to avoid liability for his assault on Deiss under color of law.'

The trial is likely to last several days at least. Jury selection will begin Monday and likely be concluded by early afternoon. Attorney Ben Rice has volunteered to defend her pro bono (without charge).

Judge Ariadne Symons is a former D.A. who was twice ruled unqualified to be a judge by the Commission on Judicial Performance.

Donna has reportedly been offered a deal if she rolls over and agrees not to sue the City, but she has refused, feeling it's a matter of community importance that there be some check against police violence.

Some of Donna's earlier activist work was with the Tenants Union of Santa Cruz (TRUSC) and more recently defending the rights of vehicularly-housed people.

"Long-Time Santa Cruz Tenant and Homeless Activist Explains the City Hall Sleep-Out"
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/08/21/18442047.php

"Harassment of Homeless in RVs, a Letter from Donna Deiss"
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/10/08/18452903.php

There were also numerous radio interviews of Deiss and her witnesses, which can be found by going to http://www.huffsantacruz.org, clicking on " Descriptions of Bathrobespierre's Broadsides radio shows...", and then searching for "Deiss". The audio files can be downloaded.

Or you can come to the trial and watch the D.A. spend public money covering for their pals in the PD.
Added to the calendar on Sun, May 17, 2009 10:10PM

Comments (Hide Comments)
by Its her only chance
You have posted so many contradictory and inconsistent versions of Donna's story that her only chance to win a civil suit is if you bury all of the posts you've provided.

He twisted her arm and broke it. No, it broke when she fell.

Nobody was smoking pot. But then Shane goes on the radio and says they were all smoking pot.

The cop brandished his billy club at her. No, then she decides he hit her.

He pinned her on her back. No, now he had her on her stomach.

She's going to refuse the plea bargain. She takes the plea bargain.


...not looking good.
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