Police officer accused of blinding woman with pepper gun

RIVERSIDE - A Beaumont police officer accused of firing a pepper spray gun so close to a woman's face that it permanently blinded her pleaded not guilty today to assault resulting in great bodily injury and other felonies.

Enoch Clark, 36, could face more than 20 years in prison if convicted of the disabling assault on Monique Hernandez on Feb. 21.

A Riverside grand jury last week indicted Clark on the assault with great bodily injury charge, as well as one count each of assault by a peace officer, assault with a non-lethal weapon, unnecessary force causing injury and allegations of using a we...