Accusing officials of stalling, two local men announced they filed legal documents Friday seeking justice in the wake of a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred in Paradise in November.
Flanked by more than 100 supporters and onlookers, activists Kevin Haddock and Robert Cheney produced copies of a 16-count complaint they said was filed with the Grand Jury.
“Cops like to say, ‘Well, we’re the biggest gang in town,’” Cheney said. “Well, they forgot about one gang, the ‘We the People’ gang. We’re bigger than them.”
The complaint includes charges of murder, excessive force, wrongful death and treason among others.
The charges are filed against Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey, Paradise Police Chief Gabriela Tazzari-Dineen and Paradise Police Officer Patrick Feaster.
Feaster shot motorist Andrew Thomas through the neck Nov. 25 as Thomas climbed from his wrecked vehicle. Feaster pursued Thomas, believing he was under the influence. Thomas’ passenger was ejected and died at the scene. Feaster initially denied firing, repeatedly telling first responders that Thomas refused to leave the vehicle.
Haddock and Cheney argued that if the investigation were handled properly, charges would have been filed months ago.
Not surprisingly, Ramsey takes a different view on the 13-page complaint.
“It’s a meaningless jumble of pseudo-legal terms,” he said.
Cheney didn’t warmly receive Ramsey’s assessment of his complaint.
“Let it get in front of a jury and see if the gibberish holds,” he said. ”Because if this gets before a jury, he’s done. He’s out of office.”
Haddock and Cheney vowed to bring the matter before a future Paradise Town Council meeting. Ramsey said the investigation will be wrapped up shortly and had little else to add.
“It’s hard to respond to nonsense,” he said.