"Stop or I am going to tase you"

Preliminary hearing for assault suspect Richard French was held this afternoon and concluded in about half an hour.

French was held to answer on the one count as charged. Arraignment on information is on May 27.

Yurok Tribal Officer Kamrin Brigance was the only witness who testified today. Four other officers including HCSO Deputy Jordan Walstrom responded to the incident.

On April 30, 2019, Officer Brigance was dispatched to an address in Hydesville, shortly before 3 p.m. "A fellow deputy had received a call there was a physical altercation occurring at that address."

Officer Brigance spoke with the alleged victim is Bryan Keith Richter and an eyewitness, George Allison. At first Allidon thought French was attacking Richter with a club.

Richter told Officer Brigance he had some property disputes with a neighbor. That neigbor, French attacked Richter with a machete. Richter had a legal concealed firearm and another female neighbor Michaela Jones had a taser.

According to Richter, he was driving a skid steer when French "attacked him. He saw the defendant come at him. He was holding a machete in the air above his head."

Richter attempted to turn the skid steer around and drive away but he was unsuccessful. French started stabbing at Richter through the slats in the metal screen. The machete "came within inches of his face and neck." Richter drew his legally concealed firearm and exited the skid steer."

Richter and French "got into a standoff." French was chasing Richter around the skid skeeter. "At one point, the defendant threw the machete at him."

French continued to stand in a threatening manner. Another neighbor, Michaela Jones said, "Stop or I am going to tase you." She deployed the taser. "The defendant laid on the ground and was compliant until law enforcement arrived."

Deputy Walstrom provided Officer Brigance with the machete and taser. "The machete was approximately two feet long and slightly rusted and sharp on one side. We tested the machete through one of the open slats on the metal screen."

Officer Brigance arrested French, transported him to St. Joe's first and then booked him into the jail.

During cross examination, Officer Brigance said there was a dispute between Richter and French about property lines, including "where defendant" had placed potted plants. Richter believed this was on his property.

The potted plabts were "15 to 20" feet away from where Richter was driving when the alleged incident occurred.  French had gone and allegedly confronted Richter's wife the previous night about Richter destroying his plants.

French is charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon.

French has another 2020 case. The charge for that case is a misdemeanor and an alleged violation of PC 166 (a) ) (4), violation of a court order.

Deputy Public Defender Ben McLaughlin is French's attorney. Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees will be the prosecutor for the preliminary hearing.

Earlier post:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/05/did-he-want-marsden-hearing-did-he-not.html?m=1#more

Previous posts:

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/05/richard-french-now-has-two-restraining.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/05/richard-french-charged-with-felony.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/05/richard-french-of-hydesville-arrested.html?m=1