Councilmember faces misdemeanor charges
San Juan Bautista city council member George Dias appeared in
court this week on the charge of causing bodily harm to an officer,
a misdemeanor.
Councilmember faces misdemeanor charges
San Juan Bautista city council member George Dias appeared in court this week on the charge of causing bodily harm to an officer, a misdemeanor.
After a brief appearance, the trial was continued. The court has not yet assigned a date for his trial.
The case was originally scheduled for a jury trial on Dec. 10. Judge Steven Sanders presided.
In court, Dias appeared calm. He sat with his hands clasped and chatted with one of his lawyers, Lawrence Biegel.
Dias was arrested at the scene of a trailer fire April 14.
Upon their arrival at the scene, Deputies Jason Leist and Doug Dahmen attempted to clear bystanders from the scene, according to the documents from the sheriff’s office.
Leist ordered the pedestrians to stand behind the sheriff’s vehicle where they would be safe and out of the way of emergency personnel, according to the documents.
Dias refused to move, according to the incident report from Leist. When Leist and Dahmen attempted to place Dias into custody, he resisted. During the struggle, Leist was pushed into some bushes and was cut by the branches. Dahmen received five stitches on his lower left ear and three stitches on the left side of his face, according to documents.
Dias was on his own property and out of the zone of danger, said Joseph Cisneros, a lawyer representing Dias.
“The officer was basically confrontational and rude with him,” Cisneros said, “and really caused the whole situation.”
