Law-Fleeing Cyclist Tasered by Police
Man Allegedly Was Carrying Cocaine, Other Peoples' Credit Cards
Police officers’ attempts to stop a man from illegally riding a bicycle on the sidewalk on January 4 result in a brief chase and the man’s arrest for cocaine possession, among other charges.
According to a police report from Sgt. Lorenzo Duarte, officers were patrolling the 200 block of East Carrillo Street at 1:55 p.m. on Sunday when they saw 43-year-old Robert Yartz riding his bike on the sidewalk – a violation of municipal codes. When the officers attempted to stop Yartz, the report continued, he allegedly ducked into a private parking garage to hide. Yartz then attempted to flee and abandoned his bicycle to continue his escape on foot all the way to a residence at 517 E. De la Guerra St., but people living there told him to leave.
Officers set up a perimeter around the area and ultimately found Yartz at 815 N. Salsipuedes St., whereupon officers tasered him, allegedly because he refused to lie down after being ordered to do so. Upon taking him into custody, officers say they found cocaine on his person and someone else’s credit cards in his backpack. Duarte said the investigating officers had determined that the backpack, credit cards, and several other items had been stolen from a vehicle parked in City Lot #10 on January 3. Duarte noted that Yartz has been connected by officers to three other auto burglaries, but he did not elaborate how.
Yartz, who was also revealed to be on parole, was arrested and booked on charges of burglary, possession of stolen property, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, and violation of parole.
