King County Prosecutor: Um, yeah, sorry about that
Zach Triesman, the Critical Mass bicycle rider who unknowingly got into a tussle with an undercover King County deputy [mb], won’t face felony charges [Seattle P-I] after prosecutors admitted that “there existed substantial issues about precisely when and under what circumstances force was being used against the officers.” In other words, too many eyewitnesses contradicted the cops’ version of events. There’s still a possibility Zach may face a far-less-serious misdemeanor charge, but this is unquestionably good news.
Zach apparently isn’t planning to press countercharges against the officers. Josh Feit over at The Stranger chided him for not doing so, claiming that Zach is exercising white privilege by not bothering to sue the cops. [slog] Josh, seriously, I realize you’d have preferred a juicy long running get-the-Man court battle to fill column inches with, but dragging race into this is a load of puerile, baiting crap. The bicyclist community ain’t too happy with you either. [point83.com]
The next Critical Mass ride is tomorrow beginning at 5:30 at Westlake Center. [Seattle Critical Mass]
I’m trying to think of a high point in SLOG news coverage since their excellent reporting on the Cap Hill murders but I’m coming up blank. They seem to be flailing over there. Or drunk. Not sure which.
I thought they were actually pretty good at the start of the CM arrests story; it’s just this latest post that’s been annoying.