Shea was arrested April 30 during the Baltimore Critical Mass ride. Multiple misdemeanor charges were filed based on a report by the arresting Baltimore City K-9 Patrol officer Michael Williams. Williams, apparently frustrated by being slowed down by the mass of nearly 40 bikes in rush hour traffic, ordered the group of cyclists to stop near the corner of Lombard and Paca after it started to break up for the evening.

Shea, who had split off before the encounter began, was called back to the scene with his video camera by another participant in the ride. Officer Williams immediately focused his attention on Shea as he held the camera and approached the scene on foot. Williams demanded identification, then knocked him to the ground with the assistance of a plainclothes officer who would not identify himself.

Shea was booked on six charges, including attempt to flee the scene, disobeying a lawful order, and failure to yield right of way to pedestrians. He spent 57 hours in the lockup at central booking, facing possibly months in prison and hundreds of dollars in fines. In mid-May, Shea was offered the chance to plead guilty and a probation before judgement, which he refused. Last week, a jury trial was scheduled for today wherein Shea planned to plead not guilty to all charges.

This morning before the trial began, Shea's attorney informed the prosecutor that a video tape of the incident would be presented, which shows Shea on foot, not attempting to resist arrest or flee the scene, and politely cooperating even as he was being handcuffed. The prosecutor dropped the case.

Thanks to the "nolle prosequi" status of the charges against him, Shea has an excellent case for wrongful arrest, police harassment and excessive force against Officer Williams and other officers of the BCPD K-9 unit. Shea is considering his options at this point and seeking legal assistance for this new case; watch this space for updates.

Previous articles on this case:
baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/6959
www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp
epistolary.org/4282.html

For further information:
www.critical-mass.org
videoactivism.org/criticaltips.html

Kathleen Ellis
protozoa (at) tux *dot* org