Police to Return Video Seized During 4th Melee

Police will not press charges against Michael W. Thayer, 21, who complained that his videotape was seized during the Fourth of July melee in downtown Huntington Beach, a department spokesman said Tuesday.

Moreover, Lt. Jim Cutshaw said, Thayer will get his tape back.

Police had previously said they might use the tape as evidence that Thayer had ignored three separate police requests to clear the area. Also, they speculated that the tape might prove useful in determining the appropriateness of police conduct in the wake of allegations that they had used excessive force to control Fourth of July crowds.

But Cutshaw said the two-hour tape simply recounted Thayer’s holiday, recorded with a video camera attached to a helmet he wore as he pedaled his bicycle around town.

“There wasn’t anything on the tape regarding police activity other than police asking people to quiet down at a party,” he said. “There is insufficient evidence to charge Mr. Thayer of any wrongdoing.”

Thayer said he was told Friday he could have the tape back and he expected to pick it up Tuesday. He said he still intended to lodge a formal complaint about police taking the tape.