2 California cops sent to the “character construction class” to break the skateboard – The Mercury News

Two riverside police officers – one who broke the roller board of a resident and another who photographed the damaged board in a crime recorded by a surveillance camera – were sentenced to community service on Thursday, April 3, after accepting a diversion program in a case of vandalism for offense.

Timothy Rolland Popplewell, 35, and Andrew Jason Price, 28, appeared at the Riverside County Hall of Justice before the superior court commissioner, Stepanie Field, who ordered everyone to pay a fine of $ 100, serve 48 hours of community service and attend a “character reinforcement class”, according to the judiciary.

If the officers meet the conditions of sentence, the accusations could be rejected during a hearing scheduled for October 3.

The district prosecutor’s office opposed the diversion program on behalf of the victim but has not suggested an alternative resolution, said John Hall, AD spokesperson.

The restitution has already been made to the victim, added Hall.

Vandalism is an offense when the value of the damage is less than $ 400. A conviction can bring up to a year in prison and a fine of $ 1,000.

The police service is continuing its internal investigation, which could lead to a discipline, said agent Ryan Railsback, spokesperson for the department. The officers remain in service and are assigned to the police -focused police team, which addresses issues such as quality of life and general nuisances.

It was on one of these calls that the roller board was broken on January 21.

Police went to a home to help the code application agents, said Railsback. The images of the surveillance camera of a neighbor show five police officers and an application of the code entering a backyard. The police put themselves before you notice a roller board. He places it on the ground and tries to climb it and do tricks. Another police officer rises on board and switch back and forth. A third then tries to climb it but stops and laughs.

While the quota leaves the courtyard, two police officers remain behind. We can be heard saying “Smash” and is seen pointing. The other seizes what seems to be an ax of pick. This officer then slams his right foot in the middle of the table. He looks at the other officer and remakes him, and this time the board of directors collapses.

The resident filed a complaint the next day and the investigators learned video the next day, said Railsback.

No one publicly said which officer vandalized the skateboard. The officers’ lawyer could not be joined to comment on Thursday.

“This behavior is unacceptable and does not reflect the standards of the riverside police service,” said chief Larry Gonzalez in an article on Facebook announcing the internal investigation.