Officers admit rights violation

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Nov 16, 2004 | by STAFF WRITER

Two former Federal Protective Service officers who chased and shot at a fleeing traffic offender's car and then lied about it have pleaded guilty to violating that man's civil rights.

Peter Taoy, 48, of Vallejo pleaded guilty to conspiracy against rights and making false statements; he faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $500,000. John Haire, 43, formerly of Monterey and now of the Sacramento area, pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law; he faces up to one year and $100,000. They're to be sentenced March 7 by U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel of San Francisco.

Taoy and Haire admitted that early Feb. 15, 2003, they saw Jeffrey Petri drive through a red light about two blocks from federal property. After a high-speed chase through San Francisco's streets, Petri's car stopped. When it began moving again, Taoy fired four shots from his service revolver at Petri's left-front tire. Petri was then taken into custody.

Taoy and Haire admitted lying to investigators and a prosecutor, claiming Taoy fired in self-defense as Petri tried to run him over and claiming the chase began next to federal property, rather than a few blocks away. As a result, Petri was wrongfully charged with assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon and spent six days in jail before being released when prosecutors realized the evidence didn't support the charge.

The Federal Protective Service, part of the Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, polices federal property.