[Vision2020] Did Anyone See this in the Local Newspapers?

[Bill London]

About a week ago on V2020, the question was asked if the local media covered 
the story of the Pullman policeman who was alleged to have used excessive 
force and was set for federal trial.
I didn't recall seeing the story in the Daily News and contacted DN managing 
editor Doug Bauer about it.  He set the record straight -- the story ran on 
page 3A, April 29....see below
BL

>Daily News, April 29
> Taser ‘excessive force’ case slated for trial
> Complaint filed against Pullman police officer to be heard in October in
> Spokane
> Staff report
> The federal trial date for an “excessive force” suit against a Pullman
> police officer has been set for Oct. 18 in Spokane.
> Wenatchee resident Ed Kavanaugh alleges Pullman Police Officer Ruben
> Harris Tasered him in Pullman in January “without any appropriate
> justification whatsoever,” Kavanaugh’s lawyer, Steve Martonick, said.
> Kavanaugh and a friend were stopped in Pullman by Harris because
> Kavanaugh’s friend reportedly vandalized a vehicle, Martonick said.
> Video from a camera on the Taser gun recorded an officer asking
> Kavanaugh to sit on the ground.
> When Kavanaugh continued to stand and told the officer to “wait a hot
> second,” the Taser was deployed and Kavanaugh fell to the ground.
> Kavanaugh was then charged with malicious mischief, which was dismissed
> in court, Martonick said.
> Harris’ lawyer Stewart Estes, a Seattle-based defender for the city of
> Pullman, said no excessive force was involved during the incident.
> Harris was within the law when he asked Kavanaugh and his friend to sit
> on the ground. Harris deployed the Taser after telling Kavanaugh six
> times to sit and warning him he would be Tasered if he didn’t comply.
> Kavanaugh will be seeking money for compensation for the incident and
> punitive damage, both in amounts to be determined by jury in Spokane.
> While Martonick said this type of case is not unique in Pullman, Estes
> said this is the first time in the 10 years he’s worked for Pullman he
> has handled a excessive force complaint involving a Taser.
> Martonick will work with civil rights Seattle attorneys Ed Budge and
> Erik Heipt.
>
> >>
>>     ----- Original Message -----
>>     *From:* Wayne Price <mailto:bear at moscow.com>
>>     *To:* vision 2020 <mailto:vision2020 at moscow.com>
>>     *Sent:* Friday, May 07, 2010 5:24 PM
>>     *Subject:* [Vision2020] Did Anyone See this in the Local Newspapers?
>>
>>     by KREM.com
>>     krem.com
>>     Posted on May 7, 2010 at 4:10 PM
>>     Updated today at 4:10 PM
>>     PULLMAN, Wash. -- A federal trial date has been set in the
>>     excessive force case against a City of Pullman officer. The civil
>>     rights complaint accuses Pullman Police Officer Rueben Harris of
>>     tasering Ed Kavanaugh "without any appropriate justification
>>     whatsoever." The case will go to trial on October 18, 2010.
>>     On a snowy night in Pullman in January of 2009, Kavanaugh was
>>     stopped by Officer Harris because an acquaintance he was walking
>>     with was reported to have kicked a car mirror.
>>     Video taken from Harris' taser gun shows Kavanaugh standing with
>>     his palms up facing Harris asking him to "wait a hot second" as
>>     Harris maniacally yells at him to get down on the ground.
>>     Apparently Kavanaugh's non-threatening request to wait a second
>>     did not sit well with Harris. Harris tasered Kavanaugh as he stood
>>     with his palms up, sending him to the ground writhing in agony
>>     caused by thousands of volts of electricity.
>>     Even the car owner, who witnessed the incident, was outraged by
>>     Harris's conduct. A "victim impact statement" submitted to the
>>     court by the owner of the vehicle, characterized the tasering of
>>     Kavanaugh as "disturbing" and "premediated."
>>     Kavanaugh was visiting Pullman from his home in Wenatchee when the
>>     incident occurred. All charges against him were promptly dismissed.
>>     Kavanaugh's Pullman attorney, Steve Martonick, says he got
>>     involved in the lawsuit because he thinks Harris possess a danger
>>     to the community. Kavanaugh is also represented by well-known
>>     civil rights attorneys Ed Budge and Erik Heipt in Seattle.
>>
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>