People v. Spengler CA2/3

BACKGROUND

I. The charged offenses

The charged offenses arose out of incidents occurring in March and May 2022. The first incident began on March 31, 2022. Public Safety Officer Victor Lomas was on patrol in Bellflower when he noticed something in an alley. When the officer slowed his car, Spengler yelled at him to get the “fuck out” of there and threw shoes at the officer’s marked police car. Spengler “charged” the officer’s car and kicked the driver’s side door. Officer Lomas backed up, but Spengler charged at the car again and kicked the door and tailgate, denting and scratching the car. Deputy Michael Arnold arrived and arrested Spengler, who resisted, saying, “I’m gonna fuck you guys up.” Spengler kicked at deputies and yelled profanities, saying this was “personal, you dick” and threatening to “fuck you guys up.” During this, Deputy Arnold saw another deputy hit Spengler.

2 As a result of this incident, Officer Lomas obtained a restraining order against Spengler. A few days after the officer obtained the restraining order, he saw Spengler again at a shopping center. Spengler approached Officer Lomas’s car. When the officer started to drive away, Spengler spat at the…