Carlsbad transient threw rocks at moving cars

Charles Jack Seiler, 30, looked happy and smiled and nodded while a cop described his alleged rock-throwing activity, during a court hearing on December 11.

Carlsbad police officer Michael Byrne said that on November 24, he found Seiler pushing his usual shopping cart containing luggage and his clothing, except on that day the cart contained approximately 20 large rocks. Witnesses in downtown Carlsbad had called cops, two weeks ago, reporting that a man was throwing rocks at cars.

“He is a known transient in our city,” officer Byrne told a judge this week. The cop said he caught up with Seiler that day about 7 am, at the corner of Madison and Carlsbad Village Drive. Byrne estimated the rocks he saw cached in the cart were “baseball sized.”

Cops took photos of the shattered windshields on two cars, and bits of glass resting on the driver’s seat inside one car, and damage to the roof of the other car.

“He was talking to himself and not really acknowledging anyone around him,” Byrne said of his suspect. The alleged rock-thrower had been followed by the drivers of the two damaged cars, plus another eight or so witnesses who kept Seiler in sight and phoned in his current location as he made progress down Carlsbad Village Drive.

Officer Byrne said that Seiler made comments like “Just kill me” to the officers around him. Officers were informed that when citizens first confronted Seiler, and told him they were calling police, Seiler allegedly said, “You better kill me before they do.”

Charles Jack Seiler was arrested that day and has been held in lieu of $25,000 bail. He is described in jail records as an Asian male, 5 feet 9 inches tall and 232 pounds. He was arrested the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which happens to be one week before he turned 30 years old.

Defense attorney Brian Dooley argued to the judge that Seiler did not show necessary intent to prove the felony crime of Vehicle Code 23110 (B), which that attorney said needs intent to cause great bodily injury while throwing objects at cars.

Judge Michael Washington agreed that Seiler seemed more interested in causing great bodily injury or even suicide upon himself, rather than harm to persons inside cars which he damaged, so the judge dismissed that charge.

Judge Washington ordered Seiler to answer one felony charge of vandalism. Seiler is expected back in court on December 27 to set a date for trial.