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Critical Mass cyclists charged: Action follows recent confrontation with police in Ogden
OGDEN, Aug 15, 2009 (Standard-Examiner - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Formal charges have been filed against the bicyclists arrested in a recent Critical Mass confrontation with police.
About 35 or more members of the cyclist advocacy group were on an Aug. 7 ride in downtown Ogden when members became unruly, police say. Four cyclists were arrested.
Trouble started at 23rd Street and Grant Avenue when a driver stopped at a red light and was surrounded by bicyclists.
She was unable to pull forward when the light changed, and police said she accidentally bumped a cyclist. Riders in turn shouted obscenities at her, and she was struck by a thrown cup of soda.
She called police.
The group continued its ride to 24th Street and Lincoln Avenue, where two people halted traffic, entered the intersection and began escorting the other riders through a red light, police said. Angry motorists were forced to maneuver around the pair, and more angry gestures and obscenities were exchanged.
That scene was observed by a Utah Highway Patrol trooper and Weber County sheriff's deputy who were assisting the Ogden city gang unit for the weekend.
The officers instructed the two cyclists to leave the intersection and talk with them. One complied, but the other started pedaling away after the group but was tackled by the deputy.
The four arrested were charged Monday.
Samuel McKay, 26, and Sara Fulks, 33, were each charged with intoxication, disorderly conduct and failure to disperse, all class C misdemeanors. They have been arraigned and have status conferences Oct. 26 and Sept. 4, respectively, in Ogden Justice Court.
McKay has hired private counsel, Emily Swenson.
Donald Hall, 61, who was tackled, was charged in 2nd District Court with class A misdemeanor evading police. Arraignment is set for Thursday before Judge Michael DiReda. He also has hired Swenson to represent him.
K.C. Shirra, 19, has been charged with disorderly conduct and "unauthorized placement of a traffic control device," both class C misdemeanors. He has been arraigned, with a status conference set for Sept. 14 in Ogden Justice Court.
Ogden City Prosecutor Mike Junk said the latter charge against Shirra applies to the alleged incident of directing traffic, which is illegal for a private citizen.
The melee has generated a great deal of media attention and discussion of bicyclists' rights in sharing the asphalt with motorists, with ongoing debates on threads attached to Internet stories.
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