Pepper spray use at fundraiser probed

ENCINITAS, Calif., June 30 (UPI) -- The San Diego County Sheriff's Department says it will investigate the use of pepper spray by officers at a fundraiser for a congressional hopeful.

Undersheriff Bill Gore ordered the investigation after Francine Busby, a Democrat seeking nomination in the 50th district, complained about the department's response to the Friday night fundraiser at the home of Shari Barman, a Busby supporter, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

Gore, who becomes sheriff Friday, promised a "thorough inquiry," the Times said.

Partygoers said they were soaked with pepper spray after seven deputies, a sergeant and a helicopter arrived at the home in the upscale Cardiff neighborhood Friday night, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Monday.

Sgt. Thomas Yancey said guests surrounded a deputy who had responded to a noise complaint, and he felt threatened, the Union-Tribune said.

The deputy, Marshall Abbott, told Barman about the noise compliant, and she uttered an expletive about a neighbor, Yancey told the Union-Tribune. When the deputy asked Barman for her birth date and prepared to write a noise warning, she refused to give it, and Abbott grabbed her when she tried to walk away, Yancey told the paper.

Someone asked Abbott to be careful because Barman had shoulder surgery recently, Barman said.

"He told me I was under arrest, grabbed my right arm, twisted it behind me and threw me on the ground," Barman told the Union-Tribune.

Barman, 60, was arrested on suspicion of battery on a peace officer and resisting, delaying and obstructing a peace officer, and Pam Morgan, 62, of Rancho Santa Fe, was arrested and accused of resisting, delaying and obstructing a peace office, the newspaper said.