People v. Williams CA4/2

FACTS

Around 11:00 p.m. on March 7, 2019, Riverside police officers were patrolling

near a car wash at the corner of 14th Street and Main Street in Riverside. One of the

officers testified at trial and described the area as “a high-crime area, and where local

transients hang out, and drug transactions and sales of that nature [occur].”

The officers drove through the car wash and saw Williams and another person

sitting in an alcove at the back of a building to the left. The officers approached Williams

because the businesses were closed. One of the officers said he had previous contacts

with Williams and knew him by the name of “Brown.” As he explained on cross-

examination by Williams, “I’ve heard your name from other homeless transients referring

to a large black male named Brown, also known as Abdual.”

One officer testified Williams had a golf club sitting next to him when they

approached. The officer said he moved Williams away from the golf club for questioning

because it could be used as a weapon. The second officer questioned the person who was

with Williams, who didn’t mention the golf club. The officer who questioned Williams

described him as a tall…