Professional cowboy arrested for filming incident files new lawsuit against Richmond police

RICHMOND, Calif. (KGO) – New charges are being filed against Richmond police after a man was arrested for filming police making another arrest.

Richmond police had stopped a vehicle allegedly involved in a shooting outside Joe’s Market on Macdonald Avenue around 10 p.m. on May 5. As they were removing people from the vehicle and taking them into custody, Kwesi Guss began filming the vehicle. His lawyer says he exercised his right to film police. Richmond police say he obstructed an officer.

In the video of the May 5 police stop, Richmond Police Sergeant Alexander Caine turns his attention to Guss, who is filming the altercation up close, and yells profanities while ordering Guss to get out of the way.

According to a complaint filed, Guss responds with profanities and tells Caine to shut up when Sergeant Caine begins shoving him.

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The complaint states that another bystander intervened as a second police officer, Nicholas Remick, continued to attack Guss.

“I feel racist because there’s a young black guy with a camera and there’s a white guy with an attitude and a badge,” Guss said.

“They basically mistreated him in a way that was completely unjustified. This was a person exercising his constitutional rights,” said attorney John Burris.

The indictment says the two men handcuffed Guss, kicked him in the ankle, forced him to the ground, and pressed their knees into his back and ribs. They also forced his face into the ground.

“If I tell you what they did the most, it’s that they literally stalked me,” Guss said.

The lawsuit says Guss was treated at the hospital for a head injury, lower back pain, wrist pain, bruised ribs and acute stress disorder. It also says the encounter interfered with his employment as a professional cowboy who trains horses, competes in rodeos and teaches lessons.

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“My wrists still hurt so much since Cinco De Mayo. Every night they hurt. I have nightmares, bad dreams,” Guss said.

The complaint alleges that there were multiple complaints against Sergeant Caine during his tenure as a dog handler and that this incident indicates that the Richmond Police Department failed to discipline Caine.

“This cop was out of control,” Burris said.

Earlier this month, Richmond Police told ABC7 News that Police Chief Bisa French had launched an outside investigation into the incident due to a staffing shortage in the Office of Professional Accountability.

A spokesman said no bodycam footage would be released at this time as this is an open and active investigation.

“While the investigation is conducted, Sergeant Caine will be temporarily transferred to an administrative position with no contact with the public,” Richmond police said in a statement.

Guss says he hasn’t been able to work since the incident. We’ve reached out to the city attorney and the city manager’s office for comment and have not yet received a response.

In a statement, the Richmond Police Officers Association said:

“The Richmond Police Officers Association stands fully behind Sergeant Caine and the actions taken during this high-risk incident. We urge the public to consider the full context and facts as they come to light and to be aware of the complexities and dangers officers face while protecting the residents of Richmond. Guss is responsible for his actions.”