SACRAMENTO, Calif. Ethan Pocic Seahawks Jersey . -- A man took a coconut cream pie from a grocery bag, grabbed Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson from behind and smacked him in the face with it at a charity event, leading the former NBA star to start swinging and then tackle the man who was left battered and facing assault charges.The pie wielder and local activist, Sean Thompson, 32, said Thursday that the mayor overreacted, sending him to the hospital for nine stitches before he went to jail. He said he was angry Johnson devoted so much political energy to an arena for the citys basketball team and not to other needs such as education and homelessness.The mayor was greeting people eating at an outdoor charity dinner Wednesday night at Sacramento Charter High School when Thompson pulled Johnson back and shoved the pie in his face, said Johnsons chief of staff, Crystal Strait.There was no throwing of the pie, said Erika Bjork, who works for a professional soccer team in Sacramento and saw the encounter up close. This was a direct assault. It just happened that he had a pie in his hand.Bjork, whose boss is a major donor to Johnson, said the mayor looked shocked and swung at Thompson multiple times, but she didnt see him land any punches.Thompson had red and blue bruises and a roughly 1-inch line of stitches under his left eye when he spoke to The Associated Press in jail.When I threw the pie at him, right at that moment, I shouted at him. I said, `You need to better represent me, Thompson said.He said the mayor turned and hit him at least twice and pretty hard. Thompson said he covered his face and started to move away but was quickly surrounded by people and kept taking hits. He couldnt tell who delivered the blows.Thompson said he expected to be tackled by police but was caught off guard when the punches came from the mayor. He said he has no regrets but was surprised to be facing a felony, assaulting a public official.He was held on $100,000 bail and was expected to be formally charged Friday.Johnsons signature achievement in office was getting a $550 million arena built for the Sacramento Kings, which Thompson said took attention away from other issues.Cres Vellucci, who organizes legal support for activists at the National Lawyers Guild in Sacramento, said people in the social justice community are concerned about Thompsons safety and Johnsons physical response.Prosecutors will review the case, including the mayors reaction, after receiving the police reports, likely on Friday, district attorney spokeswoman Shelly Orio said.Whether youre hit in the face with a pie or a fist, youve been assaulted and youre generally allowed to respond with similar force, said Rory Little, a former litigator and professor at University of California Hastings College of the Law.Johnsons response probably is not a disproportionate reaction, though it might not be the reaction we want our public officials to have, Little said.Vellucci wrote in an email that he met Thompson five years ago and described him as a nonviolent person who participated in some of the first Black Lives Matter protests in Sacramento in 2014 and in Occupy Sacramento rallies before that.Police and Johnsons chief of staff said Thompson was not previously known to the mayor and his staff. In an interview with local TV stations, Thompson said hes interacted with Johnson many times during city meetings for activists and that the mayor often appears disinterested and unengaged in community members concerns.Johnson is well-known for his efforts to revitalize Oak Park, a predominantly African-American neighborhood.Hes a graduate of the high school where the event was held Wednesday and brought it back from the brink of dissolution in the early 2000s by incorporating it in a system of charter schools he founded to help disadvantaged communities.Johnson, who had a long career as an NBA All-Star with the Phoenix Suns and a brief stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, has about two months left as mayor. He decided not to seek a third term.---Associated Press writer Jonathan J. Cooper contributed to this report.---This story has been corrected to show that the first name of Cres Vellucci was misspelled Chris and that Thompson had injuries around his left eye, not his right. 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That means the 6-foot-3, 329-pounder -- who has never made a start at either tackle spot -- will be charged with protecting quarterback Chad Kellys blindside against the Seminoles talented defense.If Ole Miss expects another banner year from Kelly -- who threw for 4,042 yards and running for 500 more during the programs 10-win season a year ago -- Taylor and the rest of the offensive line will have to keep the quarterback from getting pressured, hit and sacked.Freeze said he loves the work that Taylor and the rest of the offensive line has done during preseason camp. Even so, he said its hard to predict how the relatively inexperienced group will react to one of the best teams in the country.I like what I see on tape, but give me a couple weeks and we will know if it is fools gold or not, Freeze said.Taylor is a converted guard, but still beat out prized freshman recruit Greg Little and a handful of other candidates. He replaces Laremy Tunsil, a three-year starter who was a first-round NFL draft pick by the Miami Dolphins.Freeze acknowledges Taylor doesnt have the ideal body to play left tackle. Hes a little short for the position and doesnt have the longest arms, but Freeze says Taylors athleticism makes up for it.His quarterback agrees.Hes been really good, Kelly said. Hes an athletic guy. Hes got a lot of confidence and hes physical. Playing the left tackle position thats what you need. As long as hes stays the course, does the right thing and keeps onn learning hell be good. Ethan Pocic Youth Jersey. Senior center Robert Conyers -- one of the few veterans up front -- says Taylor should be fine as long as hes mentally prepared.I think it starts more between your ears, Conyers said. Being smart and knowing where you can get beat and where you cant get beat. If you know what youre doing, thats half the battle. Hes got a leg up on everybody else just because hes more athletic than just about anybody who plays that position.Taylors emergence was a bit of a surprise considering his career has been checkered with occasional discipline problems. The latest was when he was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting during the spring.Senior tight end Evan Engram said its been rewarding to see Taylor mature during the summer and is confident he can anchor the left side of the line.If he takes this seriously, applies himself and puts the work in he can be that pivotal player who could change the shape of our offensive line and even our team, Engram said.Florida State will undoubtedly put Taylors maturity to the test early and often on Monday. The Seminoles have made no secret that disrupting Kellys rhythm is crucial to their success.Chad Kelly, hes what keeps the factory running over there, Florida State safety Derwin James said. Hes a big part of what they do. They feed off him. He can beat you on the run, he can beat you with the pass.-----AP Sports Writer Joe Reedy in Tallahassee, Florida, contributed to this story.-----Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP . AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org . Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
