Ramona man who drove toward protesters is charged

San Diego Union-Tribune

A Ramona man who drove his pickup toward a group of anti-war protesters last month has been charged with misdemeanor reckless driving.

Keith Alan Davis, 55, was sent a letter Thursday ordering him to appear in court July 31. Davis could face up to six months in jail if convicted. Such cases, however, usually don't result in jail time.

Davis said he was only expressing his First Amendment right of self expression when he drove slowly onto the shoulder of state Route 67 near the intersection of Dye Road in Ramona June 29 and displayed his middle finger to each person protesting. He said he felt the protesters were “un-American.”

The protesters, however, say they had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit, and that Davis ran over several of their signs with messages such as “End the War in Iraq,” and “Support Our Troops, Send Them Home Now.”

“We reviewed the case carefully, read all the reports, and this was our conclusion about what charges he should face,” said Deputy District Attorney Dan Lamborn, chief of the El Cajon branch of the District Attorney's Office. .....