Opinion ID: 41383
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Underlying Incident

Text: 3 The incident that gave rise to the action happened just before midnight of April 14, 2002. According to Deputy Ashabranner, he stopped Michael after he observed Michael riding a bicycle, which lacked a headlight, the wrong way down a road in Harris County, Texas. Deputy Ashabranner maintains that he observed a shiny or metallic object in Goodman's back pocket. Deputy Ashabranner claims that, after being stopped, Michael pushed Deputy Ashabranner down and fled on the bicycle. Thereafter, Deputy Ashabranner released a police dog and pursued Michael. 4 Deputy Ashabranner states that, when he reached Michael, Michael was holding the police dog's head under standing roadside water. Deputy Ashabranner and Michael came together in a physical struggle, and, according to Deputy Ashabranner, Michael pushed Deputy Ashabranner down and reached behind his back as if to pull something from his back pocket or the back of his pants. Deputy Ashabranner shot Michael, and Michael died from his wounds.