Crime & Safety
Charges Dismissed In Former Police Taser Trial
The Contra Costa D.A. dismissed charges against former Richmond Police officer recorded beating a man with a Taser.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Prosecutors dismissed charges against a former Richmond police officer filmed in parking lot beating a man with a Taser.
The Contra Costa District Attorney dismissed charges against Eric Smith, Jr., after a trial ended in January with a hung jury.
Smith, 31, had been filmed on body-cam repeatedly striking Saul Mendoza Jr. with a Taser during a traffic stop on April 9, 2022, leaving Mendoza bloodied.
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Smith faced felony assault with a deadly weapon and enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury and using a deadly weapon.
After a three-week trial, 11 of 12 jurors voted to acquit, resulting in a mistrial. Judge John W. Kennedy dismissed the jurors, with the case initially scheduled to return to court Feb. 2 for a new trial or pre-trial matters.
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The incident occurred during a traffic stop in Richmond when Smith attempted to arrest Mendoza after a car chase. During the struggle, Smith repeatedly struck Mendoza with a Taser.
Smith was fired and charged by the Contra Costa District Attorney in August 2022.
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