Man cites cop for parking

Portland - A Portland, Ore., man has issued a series of citizen-initiated parking charges against a police officer he claims illegally parked his patrol vehicle.

Eric Bryant, who recently passed the Oregon bar exam, said he confronted Officer Chad Stensgaard at a Chinese restaurant March 7 after he witnessed the officer parking next to a "No Parking" sign, the Portland Mercury reported Monday.

Bryant claims Stensgaard admitted to parking improperly, but asked: "If someone broke into your house, would you rather have the police be able to park in front of your house or have to park three blocks away and walk there?"

However, Bryant said the officer did nothing inside the restaurant other than apparently pick up some food he ordered.

"If he had acknowledged and corrected his error, we could have avoided his whole thing," said Bryant. "But instead, he kept watching basketball and told me he wasn't doing anything wrong."

Bryant initiated violation proceedings as a citizen against Stensgaard, alleging illegal parking, illegal stopping, not obeying parking restrictions on state highways, and illegal operation of an emergency vehicle or ambulance. If the judge agrees with Bryant in court May 23, Stensgaard could face $540 in fines.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.