San Diego
The former president of the Police Officers Assn. testified Friday in San Diego Superior Court that he secured an attorney for wounded Police Agent Donovan Jacobs before he knew much about the 1985 shootings.
Ty Reid was the fifth witness to testify in the three-week-old retrial of Sagon Penn, 25, charged with manslaughter, attempted murder, attempted manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon.
“The purpose of providing representation is to provide him with the same benefit that any officer receives; that is, the right to counsel at no cost,” said Reid, who is now on the board of directors of the POA.
Reid said he did not think his hiring of attorney James Gattey for Jacobs was unusual. Gattey, who testified later Friday, was present when Jacobs was first questioned by police eight days after the shootings and insisted on a warning being read that he would not be prosecuted because of statements he made.
The shootings left Police Agent Thomas Riggs dead, and Jacobs and a civilian observer wounded.
Officer Raymond Beattie, who arrested Penn after he surrendered at the downtown police station, will continue his testimony Monday.
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