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Indybay Feature

Salinas Police Protester Arrested for 'Inciting a Riot'

by Monterey County Police News
The Salinas Police Department arrested a man in Salinas on May 21 at 11 pm for allegedly 'inciting a riot', 'resisting arrest', and for violating the terms of his probation. He was arrested during the spontaneous protests held on Del Monte Avenue in response to the recent killings of three residents in separate incidents by the Salinas Police Department.
A SPD press release issued on May 22 at 1:18 am states:

"Diego Garcia (26) was in a crowd of demonstrators near the shooting scene at Del Monte Avenue and Mae Avenue. He taunted Officers, antagonized a Police K9, and moved through the crowd gathering followers. He was seen looking back into the crowd several times and encouraging others to join him. Garcia eventually approached a group of officers and began challenging them while taking a fighting stance. A Seaside Police Officer who responded to the scene to assist, took him into custody with assistance from Salinas Officers. He was lodged at the Monterey County Jail for inciting a riot, resisting arrest, and probation violation."

Most news sources have regurgitated the police account, and the Californian printed the police press release nearly verbatim in their version of the 'story': http://www.thecalifornian.com/story/news/crime/2014/05/22/salinas-riot/2362056/
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by let's see it
Sounds like the piggies were reading from a legal manual on arrest for "inciting a riot". Somehow I suspect they were briefed on how to snag vocal "agitators" or possible "leaders" before this demo.

"looking back to the crowd" (didn't know this was a crime yet)

"calling others to join him" (in doing what? what did he say?)

"fighting stance" (fists up? karate kicks? shadow boxing? taking swings at the cops? did he have garden shears?)

pah-lease. if it's true, release the video of him coppers

more likely, he was simply pissed and maybe loud, and the pigs are looking to shut down angry dissent
On May 21, a crowd gathered near the site of Tuesday's shooting, drawing police assistance from neighboring jurisdictions. Salinas Police responded to a 9:08pm call of a shooting in the crowd, at Del Monte Avenue and Mae Avenue.

Members of the crowd threw bricks and bottles at responding police officers as the victim lay dying. One officer was struck in the head by a bottle while he as on his knees administering CPR to the gunshot victims.

"Violence toward officers while they’re trying to save somebody’s life is something that should never happen,” Salinas Police Deputy Chief Terry Gerhardstein says.

"I have never seen [this level of protest violence] in this city. It had reached a pretty low level. We’re asking folks to remain calm and stop the violence."

There was little indication emotions had calmed down.

At one point, protesters nearly destroyed a police vehicle and stole the radio inside. Then the person holding the radio sent out this broadcast: "This is just the beginning, motherfuckers."
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