Physician convicted in cycling case

A physician accused of deliberately injuring two cyclists by slamming on his car’s brakes on a narrow Brentwood road last year was convicted Monday of assault with a deadly weapon, mayhem and other serious criminal charges.

The three-week trial of Dr. Christopher Thompson drew close attention from cyclists, many of whom viewed the case as a test of the justice system’s commitment to protecting cyclists.

Thompson, wearing a dark blue suit, bowed his head as the verdicts were read. He faces a possible prison term.

Prosecutors alleged that on July 4, 2008, Thompson stopped his car after passing the two cyclists and shouting at them to ride single-file. One cyclist ran face-first into the rear windshield of the doctor’s red Infiniti, breaking his front teeth and nose, and leaving his face scarred. The other was sent hurtling to the sidewalk and suffered a separated shoulder.

A police officer testified that Thompson told him soon after the accident that the cyclists had cursed at him and flipped him off, so he slammed on his brakes “to teach them a lesson.”

Thompson, a veteran emergency room physician, testified that he had never meant to hurt any of the cyclists. He said he and other residents were upset at unsafe cycling by some riders along Mandeville Canyon Road, a winding, five-mile residential street that has become an increasingly popular route for cyclists. But they had struggled to identify problem riders.

Thompson told jurors that he stopped his car so that he could take a photo of the cyclists he had overtaken and believed he had left enough room for them.

Prosecutors alleged Thompson had a history of run-ins with bikers, including a similar episode four months before the 2008 collision, when two cyclists told police that the doctor tried to run them off the road and braked hard in front of them. Neither of the riders was injured.

-- Jack Leonard

Comments

[Sheena]

GOOD! I am glad he was found guilty. As a car driver, I don't want to share the road with someone who would behave this way to ANYONE regardless of their mode of transport.

[2 cents]

great - now every jerk bicyclist on the westside of town will feel empowered to ride down the middle of the street - just like that guy on Westwood every night

[Taylor Nichols]

H. G. Wells said, "Every time I see an adult on bicycle I no longer despair for the future of the Human race." Bicycles have the power to transform individuals and the city of Los Angeles, we must continue to work together within the cycling community and with its car culture to realize the potential of bike travel. Today's guilty verdicts for Dr. Thompson are a relief for all of us who brave the roads, but also a call to continue the fight and live up to the responsibility of cyclists rights. George Orwell might have said, "Four wheels good, Two wheels better."
Taylor Nichols

[Rob the Planner]

Great news. Too many drivers who kill or injure cyclists get off uncharged. It's satisfying to know that this particular road-rager will, hopefully, spend some years behind bars.
Does anyone know where we can address letters to encourage the judge to give this creep the maximum penalty? I hope many people from the cycling community do this.

[Peter]

As a cyclist, I get just as annoyed at groups of riders who feel they can take up a whole lane of traffic. Selfish cyclists who need to carry on a conversation while they ride, ignoring all the traffic around them, give all riders a bad name.

That being said, Dr. Thompson actions are un-excusable, and I hope he serves time.

People just don't realize how fast bikes can go and how much damage can be caused in what is otherwise a minor accident (I know, I was in the hospital for 6 days when I guy in a parked car opened his car door right in front of me). When it's car against bike, the bike always loses!!

[G-Money]

I am SO glad that this creep was found guilty.

He should be be forced to ride a bicycle to and from work. Then someone can do the same to him, except jam it in reverse so he ends up a pancake.

[Bill Smith]

This "doctor" deserves the maximum prison sentences served consecutively. Cyclists have been fearful of this guy before he caused this horrible, disfiguring assault with a deadly weapon. People can return to enjoying riding their bikes on Mandeville Canyon, a public street, without worrying about this threat to public safety. Ride on!

[AB]

As a serious rider on both the road and the dirt, super happy to hear that for once, a driver who aggressively attacks a cyclists (which happens all too often) will be punished.

A request for fellow riders: PLEASE stop running red lights and stop signs. It just fuels fires like the one in the heart of this idiot. When drivers give you extra room, give them a thank you wave. And when you are attacked, fight back with your brains. Call 911 and report the plate, so when the aggressor eventually pulls a move like this he gets a sentence like this.

Happy trails all. - AB in Santa Barbara

[Baronpilot]

Justice, sweet justice.

Have a nice time in Jail.

I'm sure he has already transferred every penny he has to his wife, who has divorced him so she can keep the dough. Hopefully the cyclists will be able to claw some back.

Why not let some LA Bike clubs have fun with the guy for a few hours of hazing and abuse?

Sub-human douche bag.

[Ty]

While driving, I am always concerned for other people and there safety. There are people, unfortunity, believe they are entitled. Maybe most the time they are legally so. Some situations are the most inconvient and frustrating for the auto driver. I ride a bike (not as much anymore) and walk, crossing streets. I watch carefully as not to get tangled with at car. For getting hurt once is a lifetime event that cannot be fixed. I won't be the one involved or create a bad situation, but some of the entitled should be more careful and watch out for the nuts.

[David]

While the doctor's actions were completely reprehensible, the behaviour of the cyclists wasn't exactly model either. Being a cyclist myself, I have seen many of my fellow cyclists whose sense of entitlement isn't exactly sterling. A change of attitude needed on both sides, I think. And why is it so difficult for cyclists to ride single file when a automobile needs to pass?? Yet, on many group rides, I've seen cyclists just ignore the motorists, and even get uppity with them. No wonder they get so mad.

On the other hand, a headline you never see is... "Motorist killed in collision with cyclist."

[Edward]

This will be reversed on appeal. Notwithstanding the verdict, the law has always been clear - the "vehicle" in back, including cyclists, have the responsibility to leave enough room in case of sudden braking. If a car hits you from behind, and you hit the guy in front of you -- guess what, it's your fault.

Not legally, but I will also fault the city and state for letting such tensions and legal confusion fester until it reached this stage. It's sad for everyone all around, and was perfectly avoidable if it had been addressed properly.

[Nancy R.]

Finally, justice for the countless cyclists among us who have been injured or come near to great injury because of drivers like Christopher Thompson. Many thanks to the all the jurists on the case for their guilty verdict. Let's now hope that it sends a message to other drivers who use their cars as deadly weapons against folks. And that the judge will sentence appropriately, and not let him off with a slap on the hand...

[Seth]

Good he deserves to sit in prison for what he did. He's lucky nobody died.

[JD]

I hope that his drivers license is suspended past his prison term..maybe he'll have to start commuting on a bike.

[in support of the DOCTOR]

NO jail time!

[Jere]

Justice is served.

[Donald]

Couldn't have happened to a less nice person. Justice is done. I'm not even a biker, but this guy sounds like a misreable human being. Before all do no harm. Remember that saying, loser?

[Rastus Jazzbo]

If Dr. Thompson had matriculated at USC he'd have gotten off scot-free and been handed a golden trophy by the NCAA.

[Velocentric]

OH SNAP!
Thank you LA Jurists. This isn't about bikes vs cars, its about respect for others and for human life. Felon Thomson demonstrated only a narcistic hatred for anything or anyone who dared impede his path. Some people actually believed his murderous attack was justified. Thank you for demonstrating that acting on those impulses against vulnerable road users is not acceptable in a civilised society.

[Zé]

important decision. i'm glad the right one was made

[Viejo Vizcacha]

And he is a physician!?
Throw him in, to rot! Throw him to the gangs. Without mineral oil.
Consider that the weasel had had trained before; he had slammed his brakes before other cyclists before; he had had time "to reflect" how to cause damage this second time around.
And don't forget to sue him for pain, suffering, loss of income, loss of enjoyement of life, defiguration, medical treatments, prothesis, implants, psychology treatment(s), and infringement of freedom of speech and freedom of expression (flipped him off).

[Paul]

Cyclists shouldn't blow through stop signs and ride in traffic lanes, period. That being said, you'd think if you can afford to live in Mandeville Cyn, where none other than the Governor of California has a compound, life would be sweet enough that you wouldn't need to harass cyclists. Not so, apparently.

[Jomica Man]

I've been following this story very closely, as I'm a bike rider for over 45 years. This person, regardless of the fact that he is a Doctor, was convicted based on the obvious evidence. He is most likely one of many thousands of jerks on the road in Southern California that have little consideration for bike riders. I hope he gets some significant jail time for his actions. I personally would hit him in the wallet, via a law suite, that has 100% merit.

Actually, this also applies to the jerks(male & female) with no consideration for pedestrians. Sometimes pederstrians don't walk fast enough for these morons.

[Mike]

A good day for cyclists in LA! No one should be allowed to use a car to intimidate anyone, for any reason. This type of behavior is abhorrent, particularly from someone who has taken an oath to heal people. I hope he faces some type of disciplinary action from the medical board.