Month: October 2024

Rushings lose federal civil rights lawsuit

Jury finds tasing of motionless Tyler Rushing not excessive force
by Dave Waddell | Posted October 17, 2024

photo courtesy of Rushing family

Tyler Rushing

SACRAMENTO – An eight-person jury decided today that the tasing seven years ago of the thrice-shot, motionless Tyler Rushing by a Chico police officer was not excessive force.

Jurors did find negligence in the incident by police, but attached no monetary award to that judgment, said Mark Merin, attorney for Tyler’s parents, Scott and Paula Rushing.

The decision was a victory for the City of Chico and defendant officers Alex Fliehr, Jeremy Gagnebin and Cedric Schwyzer in a civil rights lawsuit brought by the Rushings. read more

Expert: Police fear in tasing ‘imaginary’

Rushing’s parents testify emotionally at civil rights trial
by Dave Waddell | Posted October 11, 2024

SACRAMENTO — A veteran police practices expert told a jury Thursday (Oct. 10) that it was “imaginary fear” that led Chico police to tase a seemingly incapacitated Tyler Rushing.

That consultant, Roger A. Clark of Santee, testified in federal court that Rushing “was no longer a credible threat” when officer Alex Fliehr jolted his body with a taser shot as Rushing lay semi-prone on the bloody floor of a downtown Chico business on July 23, 2017. read more

District 3: The incumbent and the challenger

Councilmember Bennett ducks interview opportunity with ChicoSol
by Yucheng Tang | Posted October 11, 2024

Northeast Chico’s District 3 stretches from a piece of Lower Bidwell Park to the northern border of the City and westward to Cohasset Road.

The District 3 City Council race feels like deja vu to many Chico voters.

Two years ago, Monica McDaniel and Dale Bennett both ran for the District 3 council seat, with McDaniel narrowly losing by about 200 votes. This year, the two are once again competing for the same position.

McDaniel remembers feeling incredibly nervous while waiting for the results and frustrated upon learning she had lost. McDaniel believes this year there could be a different outcome. read more

Officers defend use of taser on fallen Rushing

Civil rights trial continues with more testimony in federal court
by Dave Waddell | Posted October 10, 2024

photo courtesy of Rushing family

Tyler Rushing

SACRAMENTO – Jurors on Wednesday (Oct. 9) viewed video clips from Chico police officers’ body-worn cameras that captured the last instants of Tyler Rushing’s life.

A dominant color in the scene was the bright red of Rushing’s blood framing his semi-prone body. After bleeding out for the better part of an hour following a serious gunshot wound to his chest from a private security guard, Rushing was shot twice more by a Chico police sergeant and lay on the floor of a title company’s women’s restroom. read more

Tasing of Tyler focus of long-delayed trial

Rushings seek verdict that Chico police violated son’s constitutional rights
by Dave Waddell | Posted October 6, 2024

photo by Leslie Layton
Scott & Paula Rushing after their July hearing at the North Butte County Courthouse.

On the eve of a long-awaited civil rights trial over their late son’s tasing by Chico police, Scott and Paula Rushing are “cautiously optimistic” about getting justice for Tyler.

The Estate of Tyler Rushing v. City of Chico will be tried beginning at 9 a.m. Monday (Oct. 7) in Courtroom 4 on the 15th floor of the Robert T. Matsui Federal Courthouse, 501 “I” Street, in Sacramento. Judge Dale A. Drozd of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California will preside. read more

The race between two Mikes

Two candidates vie for the Chico City Council's District 1 seat
by Yucheng Tang | Posted October 1, 2024

Editor: ChicoSol will cover the races for four City Council seats that voters will decide in the Nov. 5 General Election. The first in our series is District 1, where candidate Michael O’Brien has outspent opponent Michael Johnson by almost nine times. (See graphic below.)

Candidate Mike O’Brien is the head of Butte County Interagency Narcotics Task Force and a former Chico police chief; his opponent, Mike Johnson, is a businessman running an IT consulting business and a U.S. Navy officer. read more