Radicals claim Martinsville vandalism (ELF)

http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/2/087796-3742-093.html ^

[Stew Padasso]

MARTINSVILLE, Ind. -- A radical environmental group that opposes urban sprawl has claimed responsibility for damage done to heavy equipment at a Wal-Mart construction site.

The Earth Liberation Front issued a statement Tuesday claiming that its members had sabotaged more than a dozen pieces of machinery by pouring sand in fuel tanks, slashing tires, and cutting engine hoses.

[Kerberos]

"ELF was suspected in arsons of homes under construction in the Bloomington area in 2000 and 2002."

I was going to say, they need to start looking around in Bloomington.

[goldstategop]

I guess they really really hate the Wal-Marting Of America.

[Fierce Allegiance]

These scum need to get put away for a long time. I hold heavy construction equipment to be sacred, and not to be harmed or injured in any way. How could they harm these poor, defenseless pieces of modern earth-shaping beauties?

[Always Right]

I was going to say, they need to start looking around in Bloomington.

The can probably start by investigating a certain councilman who is now on trial for DWI.

[Rebelbase]

If I were a contractor I'd have a chainlink/concertina wire corral w/guard dogs for the equipment during off hours.

[Always Right]

ELF was suspected in arsons of homes under construction in the Bloomington area in 2000 and 2002.

As well as setting fire to GOP headquartes, spiking trees, and numerous other acts of vadelism.

[Stew Padasso]

"The can probably start by investigating a certain councilman who is now on trial for DWI."

This guy:



Official's case has political overtones


Associated Press
October 29, 2003


BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- A State Police official suspected troopers might have been "used" when he learned a tip that led to a county councilman's arrest came from a political adversary, according to a tape played in court.

Jurors listened to the tape Monday, the first day of Democratic Councilman Scott Wells' trial on drunken driving and police battery charges in Monroe Circuit Court.

On the tape, State Police Cpl. Jim Valentine, commander of the Bloomington post, tells Deputy Prosecutor MaryEllen Diekhoff that "it sounds like we all might have been kind of used a little bit."

The arrest on Sept. 27, 2002, came after Wells' longtime political antagonist, Bud Bernitt, spotted Wells downtown after Wells had been drinking. Bernitt called State Police Sgt. J.D. Maxwell, who was the Republican candidate for sheriff.

Trooper Stacy Brown testified that Maxwell, who was off-duty, left a message at the post and asked him to investigate a report of an erratic driver, without informing him of either man's political connections.

Wells has maintained since his arrest that the charges against him were politically motivated.

[Stew Padasso]

Here I what I don't understand, do these morons have meetings or gatherings? How does someone join up with ELF?

[sticker]

Your statement in incorrect. It should be "They really hate America"

[FierceDraka]

This indicates an ELF nest at IU - and that is WELL within striking range from where I am. We're going to have to smoke 'em out and bring 'em to justice.

I say hand 'em over to the good ole boys in Martinsville - they'll lynch them city slickers!

[Always Right]

Wells has maintained since his arrest that the charges against him were politically motivated.

Wells is hypocrit. Wells use to go out and target people all the time for political reasons. Wells would go out and take pictures and turn people in for violations. He went out and targeted a developer and mysteriously their house they were building went up in flames. Aledgedly Wells made some comments indicating he knew the house was gonna be set on fire.

Now the tables are turned and Wells was turned in by people who did not like him, and Wells is screeming foul. He's just getting a taste of his own medicine.

[17th Miss Regt]

Wells has maintained since his arrest that the charges against him were politically motivated.

No. The reason someone called in on him may well have been politically motivated. But the charges presumably are based on evidence taken at the scene of the arrest. If he was driving while intoxicated and the police knew about it, they had a duty to do something about his actions. Failure to do so could leave the municipality open to a lawsuit for negligence, had anyone been injured as a result of their not doing anything. My guess is that they spotted the vehicle, observed long enough to ensure that they had good reason to stop him and then arrested him when it was apparent he was intoxicated. The comment above sounds like the usual whining of a politician who got caught doing something wrong. He should take his punishment like a man.

[TruthIsRevealed]

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/1612786/9-12-08-plaintiff-response-to-state-facts-preclude-summary-judgment-pdf-december-12-2009-10-01?dn=y

Wells has maintainded since his arrest 9-27-02 that he was setup by the Bernitts working with ISP. The court case linked above cites 5 Material Issue of Facts that prove serious contradictions that demand a Trial if justice is to be served. This Case is now before the court.

Scott Wells was not a hypocrite and targeted no one. He only did his job as Councilman & Plan Commission Member as numerous citizens called him up to have him investigate the clear cuts that were occuring on the very steep slopes on the shoreline of Lake Monroe. Later, DNR cited Developer Steve Smith $41,600 in Fines for flagrant erosion control violations ie. not getting construction and clearing permits, not installing silt fences, not putting in check dams, etc.

The statements made by Always Right, “Aledgedly Wells made some comments indicating he knew the house was gonna be set on fire” is ABSOLUTELY FALSE. Those malicious lies that were started by Kevin Shiflet and others led to Wells Filing a Defamation Lawsuit against Shiflet. On May 2, 2008 Scott Wells Won his Defamation Lawsuit Against Kevin Shiflet - a Jury Award of $390,000 - The largest award for an elected official in Indiana.

Article: Jurors award $390,000 to Wells in defamation case
By Bethany Nolan 331-4373 | bnolan@heraldt.com
May 2, 2008

Jurors awarded $390,000 in compensatory and punitive damages to former Monroe County Council member Scott Wells Friday night after finding in his favor at the end of a weeklong defamation trial.

The nearly six-year-old case had revolved around an affidavit Shiflet read at a public meeting in July 2002 implying comments Wells made to him appeared to indicate he had prior knowledge of a fire that leveled a luxury home at the Pedigo Bay development.

The history

During the trial, Colman had implied the alleged defamation incident was part of a movement by a small, politically-charged group dubbed “The Cabal” to smear Wells’ reputation because he’d been a relentless crusader for the environment, including bringing to light tree-cutting and erosion issues that led to more than $40,000 in fines being assessed against Pedigo Bay developers.

During closing statements, Colman described Shiflet as a “Cabal wannabe” who was new to the group and wanted to impress its members. “And what greater status could he achieve than getting Scott Wells?” Colman asked, later pointing out he believed what he called the “political assassination” attempt was done to “accuse, to embarrass and to damage” Wells.

In addition, Wells still has a lawsuit pending against Bud and Amy Bernitt, the late J.D. Maxwell as an employee of the Indiana State Police, ISP officers Travis Coryea and Stacy Brown and the state police. That suit revolves around Wells’ allegations that his September 2002 drunken-driving arrest was a set-up orchestrated by political rivals.

http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/2008/05/02/news.qp-3285498.sto