Earlier this month, a young Meridian man was found guilty on charges of resisting arrest and obstructing justice after refusing to comply with an officer’s orders to remove a dirt bike from the bed of his truck. The June encounter, which has since been viewed by millions in viral videos online, ended with the arresting officer’s knee pressed to the 21-year-old’s neck and sparked a use-of-force review by the Meridian Police Department.
At Samson Allen’s trial on May 7, sergeants from the department on the witness stand offered the public its first glimpse into that review. Specifically, the officer, Bradley Chambers, was found in compliance with Meridian policy and Idaho law. Still, Sgts. Brandon Fiscus and Justin Dance questioned Chambers’ failure to deescalate the situation and decision to kneel on Allen’s neck — a control tactic Dance said is not taught in Meridian.
Chambers transferred to the Boise Police Department last September but left in January. He is now employed as an officer in Napa County, California…