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# RIVERSIDE Alleged police beating ends in mistrial
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/riverside-alleged-police-beating-ends-in-mistrial/
- Published: 2006-10-14T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T21:40:06.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import

A mistrial was declared for a former Beaumont police officer charged with beating a handcuffed prisoner after an important document in the case arrived late.

A Superior Court judge on Thursday declared the mistrial and ordered a new jury to be chosen on Nov. 13.

Christopher A. Chester, 34, is charged with two counts of assault and a count of assault under the color of authority. He could face up to seven years in prison and a $10,000 fine in convicted.

He is accused of punching David Alan Dietrich, 49, after the man spat on him from the back seat of his patrol car.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 14, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/101406.pdf?ref=smdp.com)