Menlo Park Man Acquitted of Backing Into Code Enforcement Officer

By Bay City News Service:

A Menlo Park man accused of assault with a deadly weapon after backing his car into a code enforcement officer last July was found not guilty on all charges in a Redwood City courtroom Monday at the end of a four-day jury trial.

Jerry Aaron Jenkins, 66, had been accused by San Mateo County prosecutors of walking right past the female officer, getting behind the wheel of his 1966 Chevrolet and intentionally backing into her at his Henderson Avenue home around 4:30 p.m. on July 9. She was knocked to the ground but did not suffer any serious injury, prosecutors said.

The officer had previously cited Jenkins for conducting illegal automotive repairs at his home and was in the process of photographing what were described as ongoing violations when Jenkins backed into her, according to prosecutors.

San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said the jury returned their verdict Monday afternoon after only an hour and a half of deliberation.

“The jury fairly quickly found him not guilty and accepted his defense that he wasn’t trying to hit anyone,” Wagstaffe said. “That’s why there’s juries. Every now and then they surprise us.”

Defense attorney Tom Kelley said he was happy for his client, Jenkins, who he describes as a very nice man.

“I’m really happy that the jury did the right thing,” Kelley said. “This is a case that should not have been brought.”

(Image via Shutterstock)