the Unjust Takedown on Lake Ave, Pasadena CA

The Unjust Takedown on Lake Avenue

Part I: The Quiet Interruption

Setting the Scene

The sun hung low over the San Gabriel Mountains, painting the sky above Pasadena in hues of bruised orange and fading purple—the same intense light that mirrored the sudden, agonizing shift in J. Good A. Citizen’s life.

At fifty-five, Good was not a man built for confrontation. His days were spent wrestling with Aramaic texts and theological paradoxes at Fuller Seminary. He was an M.Div. student, a man of faith, and paradoxically, a staunch believer in the necessity of law and order.

Rush hour formed a chaotic ballet of impatience. As Good approached the intersection, the signal for Lake Avenue turned green. He eased forward—then a black SUV tore through the crossing at high velocity, blatantly running the red light.

The near-collision was avoided by inches. Moments later, two Pasadena Police Department cruisers—Officers Brown and Mosman—arrived, having only “heard” the screeching brakes.

Part II: The Coercive Demand

The Officers’ Confrontation

Officer Mosman spoke softly to Ms. Bustamonte before turning toward Good with a hardened expression.

“Just acknowledge it was your fault,” he demanded.

Good refused. “She ran a solid red light. I won’t accept blame for something I didn’t do.”

That simple assertion of truth—not aggression—triggered the officers. Brown stepped forward, posture rigid, eyes dilated.

“You’ll do as we say,” he warned.

Part III: The Matter of Seconds and the Searing Pain

Use of Force

The escalation was immediate. Brown jabbed his baton into Good’s abdomen. Good reflexively pushed it away—a defensive motion the officers would later characterize as assault.

“Take him down!”

Good was lifted, twisted, and slammed face-first into the asphalt. Pain exploded through his back and neck. Even once subdued, Sergeant Pratt applied a brutal pressure-point hold despite Good’s repeated pleas that the pain was “searing.”

Part IV: Agony on the Asphalt

Humiliation and Lasting Injury

Injured, handcuffed, and humiliated, Good was left on the pavement for nearly an hour as traffic rolled past. This occurred before widespread camera use; there would be no video of the police-inflicted violence.

The City’s own medical expert would later admit the takedown could have aggravated Good’s spinal condition—injuries that would follow him indefinitely.

Part V: The Argument for Justice

Systemic Problems and Core Truths

The officers’ conduct reflected long-documented systemic issues within the Pasadena Police Department: excessive force, internal dishonesty, and a culture of punitive overreach.

• The Threat Was Zero: Good exhibited only passive resistance.
• The Injury Was Permanent: The City bears responsibility.
• The Badge Is Not a License for Abuse: Authority must have limits.

Good A. Citizen’s life was permanently altered on Lake Avenue—not by misfortune, but by misconduct.

“For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”
—Psalm 91:11

📖 The Legal Fiction of Hugh “Tim” Halford

📖 The Legal Fiction of Hugh “Tim” Halford

Part I: The Incident

Traffic Collision and the Golden Retriever

• The M.Div student had just stepped out of his car after another driver ran a red light in Pasadena, clipping his bumper.
• Lola, his golden retriever, wagged her tail exuberantly, seemingly unaware of traffic laws. Have you ever met a mean golden retriever? Or a mean golden retriever owner? Not here.
• Two police officers approached, hands hovering near belts, and later claimed the student swung at them—though in reality, he had not even considered it.
• The incident was soon misreported and became the foundation for Tim Halford’s legal fiction and dramatic maneuvers.

Part II: The Local Legend

City Hall Whispers and Framing Attempts

• The M.Div student, known as the Good Citizen, became a local legend at Fuller Seminary for “almost fighting the police” while Lola wagged nearby.
• Tim Halford sought to prove the student had an anger problem, embellishing minor frustrations and weaving unrelated behaviors into evidence.
• Lola’s presence and joyful demeanor softened impressions of the student, making Halford’s claims seem exaggerated.
• Despite Halford’s memos and dramatized motions, the Good Citizen quietly gathered his own evidence of truth and procedural irregularities.

Part III: The Novella

Courtroom Confrontation

• Weeks later, subpoenas arrived, and the Good Citizen appeared in court with thorough documentation of events, witness statements, and chronological records.
• Tim Halford presented his crafted legal fiction with theatrical flair, attempting to portray the Good Citizen as volatile or dangerous.
• The M.Div student responded calmly, allowing the facts to speak, demonstrating restraint and moral integrity throughout.
• Lola sat loyally at his feet, a living symbol of innocence and patience, highlighting the absurdity of Halford’s allegations.
• Eventually, Halford’s schemes unraveled, as fact triumphed over fiction and the courtroom recognized the truth of the incident.
• The story of the Good Citizen and his golden retriever became a whispered legend, cemented in both Fuller Seminary’s halls and City Hall corridors.
• Tim Halford retreated to his office, already plotting his next tale, but learning that some truths—especially those paired with Agape—cannot be rewritten.

explanation of august 22, 2001 : the frame job by Hugh Halford (ai summary, final)

📰 Case Overview: Philip A. Kok vs. City of Pasadena

This document is an "Explanation of August 22, 2001" and a "Petition for Emergency Writ of Mandate" filed by Philip A. Kok against the City of Pasadena and unnamed Does (1-10 inclusive). The case number is GC026938.

The explanation details the background of the civil lawsuit, a specific incident involving Assistant City Attorney Hugh Halford, and Mr. Kok's subsequent criminal trial for battery. The hearing date related to this explanation was March 22, 2002, before Judicial Officer Pluim.

🚨 The Initial Incident: February 3, 2000

Traffic Collision and Confrontation

• Mr. Kok, a Reverend/Pastor/Teacher/Writer/Evangelist and a full-time Fuller Seminary student (M.Div.), was involved in a minor traffic collision in Pasadena.
• The incident occurred on February 3, 2000, at the intersection of Lake and Villa. While Mr. Kok had a green light, a car driven by Evangelina Bustamante entered his path.
• Two officers, including Officer Brown (identified as the primary instigator), arrived immediately.
• Officer Brown concluded Mr. Kok was at fault. Mr. Kok later confirmed the intersection had a one-second "all-clearance red" signal at that time.
• When Mr. Kok refused to admit fault, Officer Brown told him to lower his voice and back up.

Use of Excessive Force and Arrest

• Officer Brown pulled his baton and struck him in the stomach.
• The officers pushed Mr. Kok face down, placed their knees in his back, and bent his arms up over the shoulder blade, causing pain.
• The officers applied handcuffs without using the safety lock, causing them to dig into his wrists.
• When Mr. Kok asked Officer Pratt to loosen the handcuffs, Pratt responded: "you should have thought about that f-----g earlier!".
• Mr. Kok was charged with disturbing the peace.

Resolution of Initial Charges

• Mr. Kok later agreed to a plea of nolo contendere and anger management classes solely to avoid interrupting his divinity school quarter.
• The record was subsequently expunged around March 2001.

🏛️ The Civil Lawsuit and Discovery

Filing and Findings

• Mr. Kok filed the lawsuit, Kok v. City of Pasadena, et al., after physicians diagnosed his injuries as "carpal tunnel syndrome" and "cervical radiculopathy".
• Discovery included at least six depositions of the involved officers.
• In deposition, Officer Brown stated he was sure there was no car turning in front of Ms. Bustamante, contradicting her claim that she was delayed in the intersection. Mr. Kok concludes that Ms. Bustamante was untruthful.

📝 The Hallway Incident and Battery Charge (August 22, 2001)

Pitchess Motion and Confrontation

• Mr. Kok filed a Pitchess Motion to search for officer disciplinary problems, but it was denied on August 22, 2001.
• The defendant's attorney, Assistant City Attorney Hugh Allan (Tim) Halford, had previously been involved in the controversial case *People v. Mooc (2000)*.
• In the hallway, Halford accused Mr. Kok of falsifying medical records, stating: "you're untruthful, I think you're untruthful".

Alleged Battery

• Mr. Kok reacted with his "normal classroom M.O." as a substitute teacher: he made a straight-down motion with his right arm, holding a notebook, attempting to hit the floor with a loud noise.
• During this motion, his sleeve "brushed the elbow" of Mr. Halford's right arm, with perhaps a "tiny amount of actual body contact".
• Halford immediately yelled, "battery, that's battery, you battered me...!".
• An attorney, Charles J. LeBeau, allegedly saw something and became a witness for Halford.

⚖️ The Second Criminal Trial: People v. Mr. Kok

Conflict of Interest and Charges

• The complaint filed by Mr. Halford was approved by Sergeant Pratt, who is a defendant in Mr. Kok's civil case, raising a conflict of interest.
• The District Attorney's office, led by Alison Meyers, filed charges against Mr. Kok for "disturbing the peace" and "simple battery".
• The trial lasted from December 5, 2001, through December 14, 2001. Mr. Kok was represented by Public Defender Mr. S. Boysaw.

Defense and Prosecutorial Issues

• Mr. Boysaw suggested Halford may have leaned into Mr. Kok to intentionally create the situation to defend his civil case against the city.
• Mr. Kok noted that Mr. LeBeau is/was an attorney with a record of public discipline (suspended for nine months for misuse of client funds).
• The prosecution raised Mr. Kok's prior agreement to "anger management" classes during the trial, despite the matter being expunged.
• Halford claimed Mr. Kok gave him three pronunciations of his name, including "Mr. Kook" and "Mr. Cock," a name Mr. Kok avoids, especially as a teacher.
• The prosecution also referenced "anonymous notes" (evangelistic letters) and "anonymous flowers," attempting to make them appear "ominous or sinister".