Beck v. City of Upland

Kenneth Beck and the City of Upland, California, engaged for months in an escalating series of disputes arising from Becks protests against a city contract granted to one of his competitors. In the incident that gave rise to this case, Beck was arrested six days after he confronted two city police officers over what he felt to be unfair treatment by the city. Becks arrest was pursuant to a warrant for two felony violations of a California statute prohibiting threats of violence made to deter police officers from performing their duties. The warrant, we conclude - as did the state courts considering the criminal charges - was entirely without probable cause. All charges against Beck were dismissed.