Briefs: Yuba City police investigate assault claim on autistic child

Yuba City police are looking into claims that a Sutter County schools employee assaulted an autistic student this week during lunch time.

Police confirmed they are investigating the claim, but said Friday it was too early to comment. No arrests have been made.

The incident took place at the special education program at Riverbend Elementary School, but no Yuba City Unified School District personnel were involved, authorities said.

Officials at the Sutter County special education program would not confirm or deny the allegations and declined to comment on "any particular case," but Assistant Superintendent of Schools David Toston said the district investigates all claims "very seriously."

SUTTER COUNTY

Ex-official drops supervisor run

Former Sutter County planning commissioner Gabrial Singh said he won't run for county supervisor in June, saying he has a family health issue he needs to see through.

Singh, a Live Oak resident, said earlier he would seek election to the seat. Instead, Singh said he is backing Maria Heredia-Sproul for the District 1 race, in which incumbent Larry Montna has said he won't run again.

Not running doesn't mean he won't continue to be politically engaged, Singh said.

"I think just being active is being engaged," Singh said. "What people have to do is get involved in the decision making."

Singh lost bids for supervisor in 2008 and 2004.

YUBA COUNTY

1 charge dropped against protesters

Yuba County prosecutors on Friday dropped another misdemeanor charge against two Wheatland brothers arrested last year during an anti-tax protest in Marysville.

Deputy District Attorney Mike Byrne said there was "no advantage" in charging Benjamin and Russell Bartholomew with affixing a sign to state property and asked the charge be dismissed.

Defense attorney Paul Boylan declined to comment Friday, saying "anything could happen" before the trial begins.

The brothers now face single misdemeanor counts each of obstructing police during their April 28 protest. The brothers hung a 20-foot sign on the Highway 70 overpass near Erle Road, south of Marysville, stating "Taxes = Theft."

Judge Steven W. Berrier granted the motion and confirmed the April 3 trial date.