It looks as if Amy Larson will not be returning to a Napa courtroom to defend herself against charges of vandalism stemming from her arrest Sept. 11 after chalking slogans on the First Street Bridge.
The case against Larson has been dismissed, according to the Napa County District Attorney's Office.
Larson's arrest on suspicion of felony vandalism touched off a firestorm of comment on Napa Valley Patch, Alex Jones's national radio and video programs and other media.
Larson, who was unavailable for comment Friday, had insisted she was arrested because she wouldn't fully identify herself to police who questioned her after she was reported to be writing on the bridge.
While the district attorney's office will not pursue the case, which had been reduced to a misdemeanor by the time Larson was arraigned Wednesday, Napa Police Capt. Jeff Troendly said police still believe she is the person responsible for widespread chalk writing in Napa, which had to be cleaned up at city expense.
Although the DA's office has declined to prosecute, city officials could still pursue a civil legal action against Larson to recover the costs of the cleanup.
Troendly warned that those who vandalize property, regardless of their medium or its message, "may be held accountable" by authorities.
"We don't want people doing this," he said.
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Unless any one of you were there to watch this incident take place, you have no idea what happened. I know a lot of liars and they will say just about anything to make themselves look better! And Orchid Lady, you have no idea what the police officers in this town deal with! None at all! If you did, you probably wouldn't be commenting here at all and I can guarantee there are certain parts of town that you would not go into, especially after dark!
Well I have a first hand story on your subject. I was in Kennedy Park where our family had gathered to give my Aunt good-bye wishes as she was dieing of Cancer and did not have the strength to go out on her own to see everyone. My brother and I were cooking Hamburgers & Hot Dogs on the grill and drinking a beer. Well before you could even turn around there were three undercover cops in an unmarked van stopped next to us. Now I was born in this town and for many years and have enjoyed many a Bar-B-Que etc. there. Now A.R. try to keep up now, I inquired as to what was going on (as I had been to the park many times with people drinking with out a problem). There response (with the attitude, we are the cops, don't question us) poor your beer out, or you will be cited! So my brother and I complied with the officers request, and pored our beer out.
Still keeping up A.R., Now I had it in my mind that I was going to find out why the cops did not have anyone else poor out their drinks? As they approached I stepped out to the edge of the road and held up my hand in a stopping motion. I went to the drivers window and asked to get his name and badge number, (A.R. is going to say "now what did you do that for? Don't mess with the cops.") There response was "What for?" I told him that I was going to find out why my brother and I were being going to be arrested if we didn't poor our beer out, and I see that you have not told anyone else to do that, so I was going to find out why. Well the next response was from the cop and it was "LET ME SEE SOME IDENTIFICATION" ( again with the attitude that we are the cops here and you have no right to question us.) I then replied "are you charging me with something? Cops answer "NO" I just want to see some I.D.! Then I asked "if I was under arrest" the Cops answer was "No, I just want to see some I.D."
.Well I got a lawyer and took the cops and the city to court. They turned it over to a Mediator. Well it seems every cop had the same (LIE) and said 'that I was running to get another beer and they were trying to stop me'!!!
works? The Mediator ruled in my favor and the City had 90 days to accept it or not. I also had 90 days to except or not, if I wanted to take it to Federal Court. Which as I understand would have cost the city around $500,000.00. City and I settled on $50,000.00 I had to sign a paper that I would not tell how much I received from the settlement. Well the amount ended up in the Napa Sentential, so much for my not saying anything. Now A.D. this happened to me (in person, not second hand or hearsay) I learned that the Officers involved were given time on the beach (without pay). Now you know why I don't trust most cops, the one kept giving me sh*t every time I ran across him. Now A.D. I'm not done yet. The same officer that was involved in this mess also kept jumping on my step-son about me telling him I was an asshole etc. etc.
Also, I wouldn't say that "most" people mistrust NPD. That might just be the group of law abiding citizens that you hang around.
My step-son has a 4 year old daughter and she has been compensated for the last 14 years (tax payers again). So yes A.D. you wonder why I can't trust a cop, or want to go by their rules. The cops in Napa are the Judge, Jury, and Executioners of and for the City!!! And A.R. now you can deal with the other side, and STOP TAKING THE COPS WORD OVER ANY ONE ELSE'S.
Now, let me guess! You did not take it to federal court because it wasn't a case for federal court? Am I right? Or, your attorney advised against it? You didn't say why not. Also, which one happened? They twisted your arms back so you had "have two operations", or, they made you scrape your knees and drop your glasses? Just trying to be clear here. Oh, and if you want to know how I know a lot about these things, it's because I've lived here a very long time...maybe not as long as you. You're quite a bit older than I am. Napa is a very small town.
Posts like yours, Shane, are very much disturbing because it amounts to name calling because of her age and a call for her to leave town. You don't deserve this reply and I hope you act like an adult before thinking of posting again.
This is so stupid, the whole situation, that it made news, that people are even commenting, its all pathetic.
My only problem is with how this case was handled, and I have said it in previous posts. BOTH Amy and the officers could have handled this better, but to charge her with a felony was a retaliatory charge, with no basis in reality, because they would be required to prove she did the 'other chalking' as well. I feel they abused their power on this case. That doesn't make me anti-police, it makes me a person who thinks rationally and comes to a conclusion of my own. As for the places I wouldn't walk at night? I grew up up in the Laurel St. area. There isn't anywhere in Napa I wouldn't go after dark, except hiking. Mountain lions scare me more than cholos or tweekers.
Because I married his mother when he was 5 yrs old. when he started school he wanted to use my last name because his brothers were using it. I helped coach him in baseball and football. I did not adopt him. If you care to go the the cemetery and read his head stone it says "Raymond Edward Stoddard (McLean)." 2) If your son's daughter is being compensated, is it by the city? Or is it by Social Security? Social Security is compensation for a parent dying. Has nothing to do with how. Of course you are going to say the cops were at fault in that situation. As with most litigation you can't disclose what the outcome of a case is, that is why the City carries Insurance! So we only pay tax on the premiums and what ever they want to raise, due to claims I believe the cops were at fault for: a) Why did they hold the Search Warrant for 10 DAYS. The Search Warrant was for Dola and her apartment!! Not for cars in the drive way. b) If there intent was to capture Wille and not Dola, why did they wait for 10 Days! Do you think that Dola (arrested for selling drugs to an undercover officer) was trying to get her sentence reduced or dropped , if she called to tell the cops Willy was at her house? If they got a warrant for Dola's apartment! Why did they hold it for 10 DAYS? When there intent was to get Willy all along? Why did the Judge sign a Warrant if it was not going to be used right away, on Dola's apartment?
d) Why did the cops lie about the injury to one officers hand? Oh I forgot cops don't lie! (See above) e) Why did they have to shoot for the head? They had bullets flying up and down Imola ave. Not one thought about innocent people in the area. Why do you watch other cops follow someone with a gun, until they run out of gas or crash? Without shooting the person to death? Napa, shoot first, ask questions later (or lie and get your stories straight later.)
a) So what does that mean? If your last name is Stoddard, shoot on site? How dare you try to bring my family name into this discussion. b) Of course you are going to believe the police version every time! That is why cops don't lie, so I'm sure that the way you heard the story was the cover up for the cops side. A.D. states: Now, let me guess! You did not take it to federal court because it wasn't a case for federal court? Am I right? Or, your attorney advised against it? You didn't say why not. Also, which one happened? I did not take it to Federal Court because I didn't have the money to put up for a retainer to go to Federal Court. I knew that it would have been a drawn out process that could last a long time. So I opted for the $50,000. The $500,000 was an estimate on the low end that cases like mine have been awarded.
Answer: All the above, they cranked my arms clear above my shoulder blades (pictures of handcuff marks on file at Napa PD) and yes I had both shoulders operated on. They also have pictures of my knees at NPD. A.D. also states: Oh, and if you want to know how I know a lot about these things, it's because I've lived here a very long time...maybe not as long as you. You're quite a bit older than I am. Napa is a very small town. Answer: Oh give me a break don't you know that everyone has an opinion, you choose to believe the cops (No matter what). I just want the people to know that there is another side to some of the stories. Cops do NOT ALWAYS tell the TRUTH!! That is the point I was trying to get across. And alas, I don't know your age and don't care to. I just want you to open your eyes and admit that there MIGHT be a thread of truth on the other side....
That said, I can identify somewhat with what happened to you at the park except it happened to my family on a 4th of July beach on Tahoe. Yes, we had gone to restaurant and we had been drinking margaritas. Yes my son was tipsy. He was later beaten up by a guy who was trying to prove his masculinity in front of a group of his friends, after accusing my son of flirting with his girlfriend. This guy just wanted to beat someone up, bottom line. People on the beach called law enforcement because my son was injured. The group ran off. Officers removed my son off the beach and interrogated him, treating him not like the victim but like someone who had committed a crime. He had done nothing wrong, which they later discovered. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time and there was miscommunication between the officers and the custodial offices on a busy 4th of July. He refused to give them his name and they assaulted and tasered him. His skin was black from burns. They must have shot the taser at very close range. This was retaliatory behavior, not use of diplomacy with a person who had been first beat up and was not in a right state of mind at the moment. Anyway, I can identify with your frustration but still, I've met some fantastic salt of the earth cops before. They are not all the same. Keep that in mind.
Because I have had first hand knowledge that cops lie (like they did to me, and my step-son). I have also herd of the "Thin Blue Line" good cops do not rat on bad cops, they just help them cover up the bad cop mistakes. When you join the force, you are assigned a (FTO) Field Training Officer, and you will have your every move and thought overlooked. Now if the FTO feels that you are trying to go against the system, you can and most likely will be terminated.. So all I'm saying that the good cops are forced to cover up for the bad cops, when they should be able to speak up against the wrong doers. And of coarse they won't because they want to keep their jobs.