People v. Spann CA3

BACKGROUND

A. Evidence at Trial Spann spent the night in a park after being kicked out of his father’s house. The next day, he rode the light rail to the Watt Avenue and Interstate 80 station at the end of the line. He spoke with transit agent Angelah Cannon, who told him he would have to leave the lower platform where the trains arrived if he did not have a ticket. Spann responded: “I don’t trust you. You’re the fucking police.” Cannon led Spann to the upper platform. Two hours later, she saw him seated on the lower platform again. Around the time Cannon saw Spann back on the lower platform, Deputy Alex Ladwig arrived at the station. Deputy Ladwig worked for the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department in the Sacramento Regional Transit Division. His duties included checking fares at light rail stations, responding to calls from the public or transit agents, and investigating crimes connected to the light rail system. While patrolling the light rail station, Deputy Ladwig asked a woman smoking a cigarette on the lower platform to move to the designated smoking area. Spann, who was standing nearby, began moving erratically and yelling profanities at Deputy Ladwig and calling…