Taiwan court acquits vendor in clash with police over roadside sales

A street vendor in Tainan, Taiwan, was acquitted of charges including assaulting a police officer and obstructing public duty after a dispute that began with a citation for selling bamboo shoots. The vendor, identified by the surname Shen, was accused by police of verbally abusing officers and physically assaulting one.

The incident occurred when police approached Shen's vehicle as he sold bamboo shoots. Shen allegedly insulted the officers, leading to a physical altercation where an officer grabbed Shen's collar and pressed against his neck. Bystanders attempted to de-escalate the situation. During the dispute, an officer was heard telling Shen, "Do you have it or not?" in a manner interpreted as provocative.

“

Do you have it or not?

Police later arrested Shen, alleging he resisted arrest and choked an officer. The Tainan District Court reviewed dashcam footage, which showed Shen's right hand was cuffed and he was being held down, possibly after being pepper-sprayed. Crucially, Shen's left hand was seen tightly gripping a cigarette throughout the encounter. The court reasoned that with one hand cuffed and the other occupied, Shen could not have actively attacked the officer as alleged.

Furthermore, the court found that the officer's injuries likely resulted from the process of restraining Shen, not from an active assault. The prosecution claimed Shen confessed during questioning, but the court found the audio indicated Shen initially denied the charges and only agreed after repeated prompting by the officer. The court concluded there was insufficient evidence to convict Shen, ruling in his favor.

“

Why are you like this, boss? Just talk it out nicely.