A federal jury in Utah returned a guilty verdict against a California man after he assaulted a federal officer as he was being arrested in Park City on an arrest warrant. During the arrest, an officer and 41-year-old Gabriel Gigena fell to the ground. Gigena placed his arm around the officer’s neck and started to strangle him. The officer testified in court that Gigena applied maximum force to his neck. Additional officers arrived and eventually Gigena was subdued and an officer gained control of Gigena’s arm and removed it from the officer’s neck. According to witness testimony, Gigena made multiple statements about being the “chief of the Indian people” and that they were not allowed to arrest him. The federal jury found him guilty of assaulting the federal officer. Gigena’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 1st.
