CHP officer charged with assault
Initial Report:
A Coachella Valley CHP officer has been charged with assault stemming from an incident on June 22.
According to court records, Christopher Lang III assaulted a person under the color of authority. The case was handed over to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and it determined there was enough evidence to criminally charge Officer Lang with one misdemeanor charge of CA Penal Code 149.
CA Penal Code 149 states that every public officer who, under color of authority, without lawful necessity, assaults or beats any person, is punishable by a fine not exceeding $10,000, or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Officer Lang was placed on paid administrative leave and his peace officer powers were removed. The CHP launched an internal investigation which is ongoing.
The CHP released the following statement:
“The CHP understands the public’s interest in this case and it is our desire to be as transparent as possible while adhering to the laws and due process that govern any investigation. We value the public trust and appreciate the communities patience as we complete the internal investigation.The CHP is a professional organization, that wants to emphasize to the public that any and all allegations of misconduct involving its employees are dealt with immediately and in accordance to the law as well as rights afforded to our employees by governmental code restrictions detailed in the peace officers procedural bill of rights. Questions regarding the pending criminal case should be directed to the Riverside County District Attorneys Office.“
A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for Lang on January 6 of 2015.
News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 have contacted the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and we’ll provide more specific information regarding the case as soon as possible.
