(Valley Springs, CA) On 07/03/12 at 4:05 PM Calaveras Sheriff’s
Deputies responded to a residence on the 700 block of Quail Oaks Drive
in Valley Springs for a welfare check on Richard Pierce (59) of Valley
Springs. Upon contacting Suspect Pierce he displayed bizarre behavior,
including making threats towards his own safety. While the deputy was
speaking with him Suspect Pierce yelled that he was going to kill the
deputy that was trying to help him. Suspect Pierce then picked up a
metal cane and advanced on the deputy, holding the cane in a manner that
suggested that he was going to strike the deputy. Additional deputies
were summoned to the scene to assist with the escalating violence of
Suspect Pierce.
The deputies ordered Suspect Pierce to drop the metal cane numerous
times, but he refused to do so. After one final plea to get Suspect
Pierce to drop the cane and to stop moving towards the deputies, a
deputy deployed his Taser on Suspect Pierce. Suspect Pierce fell onto a
recliner chair, at which time the deputies tried to handcuff him.
Suspect Pierce continued to struggle against the deputies, but they were
finally able to get him into handcuffs. During the struggle one of the
deputies received an injury to his hand, but did not require medical
attention. Suspect Pierce was arrested and transported to Mark Twain
Hospital for medical clearance. Suspect Pierce, after being released
from the hospital was booked into the Calaveras County jail on the
charges of 71 PC: Threat of Injury Made to an Officer (felony); 243 (c)
(2) PC: Battery against a Peace Officer (felony); 417 (A) (1) PC:
Exhibiting a Deadly Weapon other than a firearm (Misdemeanor); and 148
(A) PC: Obstructing a Peace Officer (Misdemeanor). It is unknown what
brought about Suspect Pierce’s behavior.
