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Charges dismissed against Redwood City diabetic bodybuilding championDate: 30.05.2007
Posted by: Anabolic Info Team United States
Resisting arrest charges against Mr. Natural Universe, stemming from an April encounter with police at a Redwood City movie theater, were dropped this morning in San Mateo County Superior Court for insufficient evidence.
Prosecutors dismissed misdemeanor charges of resisting a police officer and battery on a police officer against Douglas Burns, 43, of Redwood City, after medical reports showed he had been unconscious due to insulin shock when police attempted to subdue him outside the theater.
Burns, the reigning winner of the Natural Universe Championships, a steroid-free bodybuilding competition, was out of custody and had been set to go to trial July 2, according to the district attorney's office.
Outside the courtroom, Burns, who said he is a Type 1 diabetic and serves on the board of the Silicon Valley branch of the American Diabetes Association, expressed relief at the outcome.
"I feel vindicated ... and thankful," Burns said.
Redwood City police were called to the New Century Theater at 7:30 p.m. on April 1 after witnesses reported a man acting strangely. Officers arrived to find Burns had been escorted out of the theater by security.
According to prosecutors, Burns was not responsive to officers' questions and then lunged at and struggled with the officers. He was subdued and handcuffed, later telling police he was a diabetic and had forgotten to take his insulin.
Burns said today that the last thing he remembered before waking up in handcuffs was ordering a movie ticket and then starting to lose consciousness as he realized he needed something to eat to boost his blood-sugar.
When he woke up, "there was blood all over my pants and my face was on fire," from being pepper sprayed by police, he said.
A paramedic who arrived convinced police that he needed treatment and he regained his health, Burns said.
Doctors later determined Burns' blood-sugar had been "extremely low" and he had been in insulin shock when police arrived, his attorney, Micah Jacobs, said.
Jacobs said he was perplexed that charges against his client were even filed.
"The district attorney's office could have and should have investigated" Burns' medical condition, he said.
Jacobs said more training and information about diabetes and diabetic shock is needed for both police and the district attorney's office, adding that Redwood City police officials have expressed a willingness to work with Burns to help raise awareness about diabetes. |
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