President Pro Tempore arrested by Sheriff's Deputies
MARION COUNTY, ID - This evening, freshly-elected President Pro Tempore of the Idaho Senate, Senator Richard 'Dick' Pumpkin ("
") of the Idaho Conservatives was tasered and arrested by deputies from the Marion County Sheriff's Office after caught he was on video punching one of the vehicles of deputies sent to arrest him for alleged misuse of the emergency 911 system.
Recently unanimously elected as President Pro Tempore by the Senators, the senator was tonight tasered and taken into custody by the police.
Body camera footage from the Sheriff's Office shows him punch a police car, before running at the filming officer, being tasered and handcuffed on the floor.
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As seen in the body camera footage, Pumpkin is seen approaching the deputy with his fists raised, before he is floored by the taser.
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A deputy moves in to handcuff the senator.
Held in custody by the MCSO, Pumpkin was (according to the office itself) charged with misuse of emergency communications, damage to public property and resisting arrest. He was bailed and faces a court date in August.
This arrest raises obvious questions about the character and integrity of Senator Pumpkin. Would a career politican really misuse 911 and then resist arrest? Or, this raises questions about what led the Senator down this course of actions - was the 911 use genuine? Or was he on drugs, alcohol?
At the time The Rockfordian went to press, the Idaho Conservatives were unavailable for comment, and the Marion County Sheriff's Office refused to comment beyond providing the body camera footage and basic details of the incident.
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IDAHO STATE GUARD Enlist today, keep those pesky Canadians out.
Published: 22 July, 2019
Submitted by: Samantha Coldsmith
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Live Update: EBC reports that new evidence has come to light, suggesting that Pumpkin may have been hospitalised as a result of injuries gained during his stay in police custody. More to follow.
Official Response from the Family of Richard Pumpkin:
Quote:We were sad to hear of the events that unfolded yesterday evening, July 21st. Senator Pumpkin was driving around in his favorite Golf GTI 2014 when he attempted to drive into the Industrial Zone Tunnel. Upon realizing that the area was blocked off by police vehicles and spikestrips, he stopped his car and attempted to exit. Upon stepping out, he found himself stuck between his vehicle and the tunnel walls. At that moment, Captain Sebastian Kruger (Badge #286) placed Senator Pumpkin under arrest without notice. Senator Pumpkin was held in custody for around 5 hours before being released. During his custody, his vehicle was presumably impounded without his notice. Senator Pumpkin contacted the police department and asked for the return of his vehicle. He again came in contact with Captain Sebastian Kruger who asked him for his location. Senator Pumpkin responded with his location, which was the tunnel between Connectivity Road and the main city. The Senator promptly flagged down the Captain's vehicle to speak with him. Senator Pumpkin was immediately tazed and held in custody for 15 hours. During his time in custody, the Senator was assaulted by Sergeant John Tassiter (). Sergeant Tassiter tazed and subsequently closed a button-operated cell door while Senator Pumpkin was in the doorway. Senator Pumpkin suffered crush injuries to his chest, arms, and legs.
Senator Pumpkin intends to sue the Marion County Sheriff's Office for damages. We request both Captain Sebastian Kruger and Sergeant John Tassiter be placed on administrative leave while the lawsuit is underway.
The Pumpkin family is represented by Gregory Edgeworth ().
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Marion County Sheriff has ordered an investigation into the actions of Sergeant John Tassiter, badge number 017, in regards to the situation reported in the latest edition of “The Rockfordian”. Sergeant Tassiters actions shall be investigated thoroughly, with the safety of the general populace as the top priority.
The Sheriff would like to remind the public that no member of the department is permitted to comment on an ongoing investigation, per departmental policy.
Regards,
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Sheriff Jack Mondays
Marion County Sheriff's Office
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