Officer cleared of false arrest allegation

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – A San Diego police officer has been cleared of
allegations that he falsely arrested a man during an investigation in 2007.

Melford Wilson, 48, filed his federal lawsuit against the city of San
Diego and Officer Ken Davis in February 2009. He alleged the lawman falsely
arrested and imprisoned him solely in retaliation for cursing at officers and
criticizing their presence at a house on Magnus Way in southeast San Diego two
years earlier.

In February 2007, officers from SDPD's Gang Suppression Team approached
a group of men in front of the house, intending to investigate an illegally
parked car and reported marijuana use.

Wilson, who was one of the men standing in front of the house, became
belligerent and urged his friends not to cooperate with police, according to
the City Attorney's Office. He ignored the officers' requests to stop his
behavior and was ultimately arrested on a charge of obstructing or delaying a
police officer.

“This is a case where the plaintiff felt his constitutional rights had
been violated, but the truth is, neither the Constitution nor the penal code
allows anyone to interfere with a lawful police investigation,” said City
Attorney Jan Goldsmith. “The officer did the right thing in making the arrest,
and a federal jury agreed with him.”

The jury cleared Davis of all charges last Friday, including retaliation
and malicious prosecution.

During the four-day trial, Wilson dropped a claim of false imprisonment.