Advocacy & Safety - Melee of cyclists / Ogden incident leads to four arrests

http://www.standard.net/live/news/180170/
Melee of cyclists / Ogden incident leads to four arrests
Sunday, August 9, 2009
By Trent Toone
Standard-Examiner staff

OGDEN -- Was it a friendly group bicycle ride through downtown Ogden or a confrontational melee that included obstructing traffic, assault, obscenities and alcohol?

Depends on who you talk to.

Numbers vary from 35 to 70, but a large group of cyclists, referred to as Critical Mass, was taking a monthly ride to celebrate cycling and assert their rights to the road on Friday when Ogden police say things got out of hand. Four individuals were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, failure to disperse and public intoxication.

Matt Hasenyager, owner of Skyline Cycle and one of the bicyclists, said the group was obeying traffic laws and having fun.

However, police reports indicate some were hostile, disrupted traffic flow, yelled obscenities and made gestures at motorists while intoxicated.

The trouble started at the intersection of 23rd Street and Grant Avenue when a woman motorist stopped at a red light and was suddenly surrounded by bicyclists. When the light turned green, she was unable to pull forward and honked her horn.

Cyclists responded by yelling obscenities and someone threw a cup of soda pop and hit the woman in the face, the police report said. When she pulled forward, her vehicle bumped one of the bicycles, causing minor damage to the fender and wheel. Then she called police.

"They demanded she be arrested for aggravated assault, but it wasn't intentional," said Ogden Lt. Mike Ashment. "The woman didn't want to pursue anything."

The group continued its ride to 24th Street and Lincoln Avenue, where two individuals halted traffic, entered the intersection and began escorting the other riders through even though the light was red, according to the police report. Angry motorists were forced to maneuver around the pair and more gestures were made and obscenities yelled, Ashment said.

The scene was observed by a Utah Highway Patrol trooper and Weber County deputy who were assisting the Ogden City gang unit for the weekend. They arrived and instructed the two cyclists to leave the intersection and talk with them. One complied, but the other pedaled away after the group.

Deputy Trevor Petersen pursued the individual, eventually tackling him off his bike. Petersen's actions surprised the group, which then surrounded him. He ordered them to move away and called for backup, the report said. Eventually more than six officers arrived to help disperse the irate crowd.

Four individuals were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, failure to disperse and public intoxication. They are Samuel Mc-Kay, 26; Sara Fulks, 33; Donald Hall, 61; and KC Shirra, 19. A 12-pack of beer was located in Fulks' backpack.

It was a bizarre scene, trooper Chris Turley said.

"I have never encountered something like this. Usually people are very law abiding, but the crowd was very hostile. Many were intoxicated and smelled of alcohol," Turley said. "It was unusual behavior."

Hasenyager was riding with the group and recalls the scene as one of chaos and confusion. He said his friend that was tackled didn't know the deputy wanted him to stop.

"It was hard to know who he (the deputy) was talking to when he said 'Stop sir, stop.' There 30 of us," Hasenyager said. "I don't think the police department as a whole was out of line, but this individual (the deputy) could have handled it in a different fashion. If it had been handled differently, without physical force, I wouldn't be talking about it right now. Maybe tickets could have been written."

According to several Web sites, Critical Mass is a bicycling event typically held on the last Friday of every month in hundreds of cities around the world. The ride was originally founded in 1992 in San Francisco with the idea of drawing attention to how unfriendly the city was to cyclists. Participants have insisted that these events should be viewed as "celebrations" and spontaneous gatherings, and not as protests or organized demonstrations.

Ashment and Lt. Scott Conley both find it odd that the group is out promoting fun and bicycle awareness, yet failing to comply with traffic rules and other laws.

"It doesn't jive," Ashment said.

"Why are they so confrontational with public? Why do they have alcohol in their backpacks? From what I am being told, they were they individuals escalating the situation," Conley said.

Hasenyager didn't see the incident at 23rd and Grant, but said has heard several different versions of what happened. He said it was heartbreaking to see this all happen, but the bottom line, he said, is that Ogden is an outdoor hot spot.

"The best we can do now is move this in a positive direction, learn a valuable lesson and move forward, and be better because of it."

Critical mass has become an excuse to party. You are supposed to bring a bicycle so people do. If they were supposed to bring a football they would bring that. I would not be surprised if people were driving to critical mass.

Critical Mass adding fuel to the fire of motorist hate.

-Kurt

The scene was observed by a Utah Highway Patrol trooper and Weber County deputy who were assisting the Ogden City gang unit for the weekend. They arrived and instructed the two cyclists to leave the intersection and talk with them. One complied, but the other pedaled away after the group.

Deputy Trevor Petersen pursued the individual, eventually tackling him off his bike. Petersen's actions surprised the group, which then surrounded him. He ordered them to move away and called for backup, the report said. Eventually more than six officers arrived to help disperse the irate crowd.

Four individuals were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, failure to disperse and public intoxication. They are Samuel Mc-Kay, 26; Sara Fulks, 33; Donald Hall, 61; and KC Shirra, 19. A 12-pack of beer was located in Fulks' backpack.

It was a bizarre scene, trooper Chris Turley said.

"I have never encountered something like this. Usually people are very law abiding, but the crowd was very hostile. Many were intoxicated and smelled of alcohol," Turley said. "It was unusual behavior."

Hasenyager was riding with the group and recalls the scene as one of chaos and confusion. He said his friend that was tackled didn't know the deputy wanted him to stop.

Oh, the humanity....Sheesh, a couple of Barney Fife's if there ever was one. The "Ogden City gang unit" is taking down drunken bike riders. On the plus side, it gives Utah hicks something to get indignent about and talk about with all their plural wives.....

I would not be surprised if people were driving to critical mass.

Heh... That'd be funny. ;)

I've always thought Utah was quite bicycle friendly. A little more "help" from Critical Mass" and that could certainly change.

Critical mass has become an excuse to party. You are supposed to bring a bicycle so people do. If they were supposed to bring a football they would bring that. I would not be surprised if people were driving to critical mass.I have seen many people drive to the start of a CM and unload their bikes.

*yawn* for the masses
:lol: numbering from 35-70... well I see we're going to a lot of accurate information from this story.

If the story is accurate the Critical Mass crew in Odgen are a bunch of idiots. I am glad the cyclist was tackled. What kind of piss poor excuse is that? "He didn't know who the cop was talking to?" Then the guy goes on to say that maybe they should have given out tickets. Yeah, to the dude who tried to escape on his bike after police attempted to detain him?

Oh, the humanity....Sheesh, a couple of Barney Fife's if there ever was one. The "Ogden City gang unit" is taking down drunken bike riders. On the plus side, it gives Utah hicks something to get indignent about and talk about with all their plural wives.....

From this I assume it's OK with you if someone throws a cup of soda in your face then, or the face of your girlfriend/wife/mother/etc.?

Having seen the way some motorists react around being delayed at a CM..... the jury is out.
I've personally witnessed what could only be described as attempted murder by car. So based on one story ....

"The trouble started at the intersection of 23rd Street and Grant Avenue when a woman motorist stopped at a red light and was suddenly surrounded by bicyclists. When the light turned green, she was unable to pull forward and honked her horn.

Cyclists responded by yelling obscenities and someone threw a cup of soda pop and hit the woman in the face, the police report said. When she pulled forward, her vehicle bumped one of the bicycles, causing minor damage to the fender and wheel. Then she called police."

even that sounds iffy

BUT if it was a couple drunken tools then so long for them.... they get what's coming.

From this I assume it's OK with you if someone throws a cup of soda in your face then, or the face of your girlfriend/wife/mother/etc.?
She tried to run 'em over, not exactly innocent.

I'm laughing at this:

Deputy Trevor Petersen pursued the individual, eventually tackling him off his bike. Petersen's actions surprised the group, which then surrounded him. He ordered them to move away and called for backup, the report said. Eventually more than six officers arrived to help disperse the irate crowd.

I bet all his cop buddies are laughing too. "Help, I'm surrounded by irate bikers!" All units rush in, sirens/lights on full, running red lights...After all, he's in the Gang Unit! Maybe it's Hell's Angels on meth. Then they get there and it's a bunch of dork bicyclists and one of them has a 12 pack of BEER! What a Barney Fife. Did he pull the freaking bullet out of his pocket after he drew his gun? :roflmao2:

Critical Mass is doing to the biking community what the loud pipes crowd is doing to motorcyclists.

CM, frat party, sporting event, wedding party, it only takes a few sloppy and hostile drunks.

CM, frat party, sporting event, wedding party, it only takes a few sloppy and hostile drunks.

Except that CM is the only one that can't exist without either nutcases or booze.

-Kurt

They stopped at one signal, and a motorist got irate and assaultive because she had to wait a few seconds for the bikes to clear the intersection before she could proceed. I guess they learned their lesson, because, instead of stopping at the next signal, they filtered through it like a parade or funeral procession. At that point the cops got irate and assaultive, and knocked somebody off his bike.

I guess no matter what you do at an intersection in Utah, somebody is going to get irate and assaultive.

One poster here, in another thread, referred to CM as "old fashioned, in-your-face-protest. Not asking, but telling" and stuff like that. I approve, at least in those places that are truly bike-unfriendly.

But it's beginning to seem that, like some other protest movements, after an initial sincere period it has been infiltrated by anti-social misfits who really don't care very much about the principle, but are only interested in behaving like fools with the protection of other fools.

It's a shame.

Though I will admit that I don't know exactly what happened, the police version of events has more the "feel" of the truth than the bicyclists version.

They stopped at one signal, and a motorist got irate and assaultive because she had to wait a few seconds for the bikes to clear the intersection before she could proceed. I guess they learned their lesson, because, instead of stopping at the next signal, they filtered through it like a parade or funeral procession. At that point the cops got irate and assaultive, and knocked somebody off his bike.

I guess no matter what you do at an intersection in Utah, somebody is going to get irate and assaultive.I have been through many intersections in Utah without ever having a problem.

But then again, I was not drunk and I was obeying the traffic laws.

One poster here, in another thread, referred to CM as "old fashioned, in-your-face-protest. Not asking, but telling" and stuff like that. I approve, at least in those places that are truly bike-unfriendly.

But it's beginning to seem that, like some other protest movements, after an initial sincere period it has been infiltrated by anti-social misfits who really don't care very much about the principle, but are only interested in behaving like fools with the protection of other fools.

It's a shame.

Though I will admit that I don't know exactly what happened, the police version of events has more the "feel" of the truth than the bicyclists version.

It is unfortunate--and probably inevitable--that a group like CM would run into problems like this. They have no rules, philosophy or leadership. It's incredibly easy for a few loudmouths to take over a ride, and evidently it happens sometimes. It's really too bad, because their basic message (Take the street) is quite appealing to a lot of cyclists.

But we probably should keep in mind that there are thousands of CM rides every year all over the world, but only a few erupt into mayhem.

But we probably should keep in mind that there are thousands of CM rides every year all over the world, but only a few erupt into mayhem.

For John Q Public, that's all it takes it.

Not that I am a fan of Critical Mass, but I like this part:


The trouble started at the intersection of 23rd Street and Grant Avenue when a woman motorist stopped at a red light and was suddenly surrounded by bicyclists. When the light turned green, she was unable to pull forward and honked her horn.

Cyclists responded by yelling obscenities and someone threw a cup of soda pop and hit the woman in the face, the police report said. When she pulled forward, her vehicle bumped one of the bicycles, causing minor damage to the fender and wheel. Then she called police.

"They demanded she be arrested for aggravated assault, but it wasn't intentional," said Ogden Lt. Mike Ashment. "The woman didn't want to pursue anything."Sure she ran into someone on a bicycle - not just "a bicycle" - with enough force to dent her fender and damage the wheel, but it wasn't intentional so it is a non-issue! It takes a bit more than a bump to dent a fender and damage a bicycle wheel.

Aside from the soda can to the face, this incident sounds ludicrous. Imagine if it were a car in front of her. The light turned green, but she was not able to pull forward - no ****, there is traffic in front of you!

Oh, the humanity....Sheesh, a couple of Barney Fife's if there ever was one. The "Ogden City gang unit" is taking down drunken bike riders. On the plus side, it gives Utah hicks something to get indignent about and talk about with all their plural wives.....

Have you ever been to Utah?

Follow-up article here (http://www.standard.net/live/news/180170/).

Kevin

I would not be surprised if people were driving to critical mass.People do. Cyclists also drive to races, training rides and parks to simply ride around.

Critical Mass usually has a large `transportation cyclist' aspect to it, and I'd say that a higher percentage of the participants ride their bikes to the start than do to your average race, but yes, some drive there.

I'm not sure why this is significant, however. To most participants, CM is more `pro-bike' than `anti-car'.

Oh, the humanity....Sheesh, a couple of Barney Fife's if there ever was one. The "Ogden City gang unit" is taking down drunken bike riders. On the plus side, it gives Utah hicks something to get indignent about and talk about with all their plural wives.....

how should i put this? oh yeah, f*&k off you bigot.

After reading the update, it's obvious they need to take a lot of video cameras along. Everyone's drunk, no one is, what a mess of contradiction.

More on Utah's Barney Fife:

The police report said the cyclists were blocking an intersection and running a red light. After ordering 61-year-old Don Hall to get off his bike, Deputy Trevor Petersen chased and tackled Hall.
Byrd said Hall is a retired Union Pacific engineer and has bad hearing.

More on Utah's Barney Fife:


Let me guess. You're a hipster on a fixie. Still living at home with Mom & Dad.

Let me guess. You're a hipster on a fixie. Still living at home with Mom & Dad.
Maybe the victim of of Utah Deputy Tevor's assault was riding a fixie, would that make his beat-down OK? Maybe I do live with my Dad, maybe because he's 80 and needs my love and support...BTW, Mom's passed on she lives in my memories :thumb:

Apparently the woman hit multiple cyclists. Scum.

Tackling a 61 year old, way to put all that training to good use. I wonder if he used his baton to keep it from rusting.
How much police escorting will be on hand for when the Mayor rides CM? :lol:

“There are traffic laws to follow, and when we all follow them, it works just fine.” um.. in my experience this is complete and utter BS... show me a place with anything even remotely approaching majority automotive compliance with law and I'll wager the populace would get shot for so much as speeding, b/c I've never seen a town or city in my life where 'we all follow them'.

Let me guess. You're a hipster on a fixie. Still living at home with Mom & Dad.

oooh. nice one!

seriously, though, if you want to drag the discussion down to a crude ad hominem level, why not just go straight for the mom jokes?

Nice of the UT pigs to escalate the deal by tackling a 61 year old guy. I wouldn't mind hearing some CM story where cops were assaulted by cyclists. And the c u n t that ran into guy intentionally! Why are these mental midgets so hot-headed about cyclists, even if they are being inconvenienced?

oooh. nice one!

seriously, though, if you want to drag the discussion down to a crude ad hominem level, why not just go straight for the mom jokes?

I think when IGH asserted his superiority over all Utahans (or whatever they're called), the discussion was already brought down to that level.

I think when IGH asserted his superiority over all Utahans (or whatever they're called), the discussion was already brought down to that level.

oh yeah? well, your mom! is already down at that level.





hm. i see what you mean.

I think when IGH asserted his superiority over all Utahans (or whatever they're called), the discussion was already brought down to that level.

Did you know the mug shots of the four victims were plastered on the front page of the local paper? These poor folks are going to suffer at thier jobs due to the actions of the Deputy. Did you read the comments locals have posted about the victims? They are being called drunks, there are posts claiming one of the victims is drunk at work (can't believe it hasn't been taken down). Meanwhile, no breath tests were conducted by the police. Utah folks know exactly what's going on, it's an old fashion "shunning".

We have our issues here in Chicago, cops and politicans. When someone makes a crack about it, I don't assume it's negative. I guess Utah folks have a thin skin.

>>We have our issues here in Chicago, cops and politicans. When someone makes a crack about it, I don't >>assume it's negative. I guess Utah folks have a thin skin. <<

I don't know, I'm not from Utah. But I have a thin skin when it comes to people thinking that they are better than other people purely due to where they happen to live, especially when they trot out stereotypes of a place they have apparently never visited. "Shunning?" Give me a break. And Utah is far from the only place where the pictures of arrested people are put in the paper.

And what about the cyclists themselves? Are they also a bunch of backwoods hicks?

I remember reading about a critical mass in Milwaukee a few years ago where it went south like this. I don't think they were being super aggressive, but the police choose the rides they show up at. Either way some cop ends up tackling a middle aged guy with a baby trailer in back, with a baby in it! **** hits the fan. I think some kids accosted the cop or something. There were a few arrests, but the kid was ok.

We've had a variety of LEO reactions to the CM's here in Toronto, some ticketfests, couple of use-half-the-lanes-availble rides and then in some instances we've been waved through/escorted through reds. They don;t generally try to split the group up because they know ppl will turn around to collect them and it just causes more chaos for the LEOs. We weren't descended upon when we rode through The Eaton Centre (church of retail) one evening either.. fun stuff. I generally don't partake anymore because it's soooooooo slow, as well I can't stand to see the inevitable face plant on the streetcar tracks by some less experienced cyclists. Now if there were a as-fast-as-traffic CM.....but I'm not sure you'd find enough willing riders.

Did you know the mug shots of the four victims were plastered on the front page of the local paper?

Only charged offenders have mug shots, not victims. You're mistaken.

Only charged offenders have mug shots, not victims. You're mistaken.

Are they offenders if they haven't been convicted?

Speedo

Charged suspects? Alleged offenders? Mug shots when arrested/processed .... still not convicted yet.

...You're mistaken.
Those 4 guys that were playing pool at the bar in Chicago, they needed a cop beat down too, right?

Nice of the UT pigs to escalate the deal by tackling a 61 year old guy. I wouldn't mind hearing some CM story where cops were assaulted by cyclists. And the c u n t that ran into guy intentionally! Why are these mental midgets so hot-headed about cyclists, even if they are being inconvenienced?

Here's how I read this one; the woman honked at some cyclists who were blocking the intersection. Then she was surrounded by a group of hostile people. Then someone threw a projectile in her face. It doesn't matter what it was, that was an assault. It wouldn't surprise me if her thoughts were something like, "I'm in deep trouble. I could even get lynched." Under those circumstances I would start rolling my car, pretty slowly, too in the hope that the mob would be frightened out of my way. Not that that's very likely, but it's hard to think of anything else to do.

And I think the "wheel and fender damage" was to the bicycle. Though I'll admit that it wasn't too clear.

Those 4 guys that were playing pool at the bar in Chicago, they needed a cop beat down too, right?

Irrelevant (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/28/three-chicago-cops-cleare_n_192455.html).

Are they offenders if they haven't been convicted?

Speedo

At the point a person is charged and booked for fingerprints and photos probable cause for the arrest has already been established, so yes.

Here's how I read this one; the woman honked at some cyclists who were blocking the intersection. Then she was surrounded by a group of hostile people. Then someone threw a projectile in her face. It doesn't matter what it was, that was an assault. It wouldn't surprise me if her thoughts were something like, "I'm in deep trouble. I could even get lynched." Under those circumstances I would start rolling my car, pretty slowly, too in the hope that the mob would be frightened out of my way. Not that that's very likely, but it's hard to think of anything else to do.

And I think the "wheel and fender damage" was to the bicycle. Though I'll admit that it wasn't too clear.

Reginald Denny comes to mind. He could have done the very same thing and been justified in his actions. As it was, he failed to act which nearly cost him his life.

yawn

to be expected in the land of regressive right wing idiots

yawn

to be expected in the land of regressive right wing idiots

?????
C'mon..If all you can do is throw out an insult, then you can at least make it clear who you're insulting and why. Or better yet, write something that's worth reading.




Yes, Reginald Denny does come to mind. But to carry on the thought he or she or we had better not move that car/truck very far. Run down one of those people and your lynching is assured. When you consider the terrible spot that such a person is in, almost any reaction they give is understandable. Flooring it and "to hell with anyone in front" is nearly understandable. Maybe that's exactly what Reginald should have done.

Critical Mass is silly imo. Just an excuse to act like an anarchist teenager and take part in activities you wouldn't have the balls to do on their own without that mob mentality.

These guys aren't helping promote cycling at all, they're tarnishing the sport's name further.