THE PROSECUTION’S CASE: DAYS 1 & 2
California Highway Patrol Personnel Testify on the First Day of Prosecution’s Evidence, May 20th, 2026.
In the afternoon of May 20th, 2026, the prosecution began their presentation of evidence with testimony from the first three cops/ bridge personnel who responded at the scene of the protest. After the attorneys questioned the witnesses, the jury passed up written questions to be asked. One asked whether machines to open up a fourth lane in the bridge were parked on both sides of the bridge. There were. Another asked an officer to state what the specific safety concerns were for not opening up the fourth lane. The officer repeated his vague but bullet pointed answers from earlier. A juror wanted to know why the officer closed all three northbound lanes of the bridge; so law enforcement could approach the protest. Defense attorneys asked the officer to confirm that to protect the public from the risks created by blocked lanes, the officer blocked more lanes. He said yes.
During this jury trial, the jurors are permitted to ask questions of the witnesses. They pass their written questions to the bailiff, and the Judge and the attorneys determine whether the rules of evidence allow it. Then the Judge asks the permitted questions to the witness, who answers them.
Cops and Golden Gate Bridge Businessman Testify on the Second Day of Prosecution’s Evidence, May 21, 2026.
The prosecution brought more witnesses to testify and the jury had some hard questions for them on May 21.
Why didn’t the Bridge open a fourth lane for emergency vehicles to pass through?
Sergeant Dan Langford (California Highway Patrol) testified that when he arrived at the scene, the protestor wearing a “police liaison” vest asked if the lane behind the movable barrier could be used to allow vehicles with emergencies through. He said the fourth lane could not be opened up because it might have been “It might have been difficult for the zipper machine to come down.”
He admitted he didn’t know how the zipper machine works.
Golden Gate Bridge District General Manager admitted that he had told the government that the zipper machine could not move the barrier in traffic, but when confronted with a video of the zipper machine moving the barrier in traffic, he said “I had a misstatement in my letter” to the government.
He testified that they decided not to open the fourth lane because there were many people outside their cars who could have been injured if angry drivers sped through an open lane.
Defense pointed out that if Bridge personnel and law enforcement officers could direct traffic during crashes, they could have done so during the protest.
One juror asked “why did you say in the letter that the zipper couldn’t run during the protest?” He cited vague safety concerns.
Another asked “were you aware the defendants had asked for a zipper truck?” He didn’t recall.
Zipper truck safely opening the fourth lane during traffic, shown to the jury
Why did it take so long to disentangle the protesters?
Lieutenant Eric Egide (CHP – Marin) brought the lockboxes protestors used (he referred to them as sleeping dragons) and tried to demonstrate how they were used. He explained that they needed the specially trained disentanglement team to “defeat the sleeping dragons,” but the SF team had been sent to I-880 where protestors had locked in that same day. So, the team from Sacramento was called to try and cut through the pipes. But, they stopped cutting them. At that point all the foot protestors had been arrested, the protestors in the cars were arrested, and they voluntarily unclipped.
Jury Question: How long does it take to cut through the pipe?
Egide’s Answer: 15-45 minutes.
Jury Question: How many could be cut at a time?
Egide’s answer: Usually they do one at a time, depends on the personnel.
Jury Question: Why was a decision made to stop cutting?
Egide’s answer: The people in them said they would come out.
It took law enforcement four hours to open the roads to traffic.