Posted on 11/07/2001 3:59:48 PM PST by B4Ranch
Solana Beach 'bullying' homeless man, friends say By Dana Littlefield November 7, 2001 SOLANA BEACH -- Neighbors and local business owners are rallying behind a homeless man they believe is being treated unfairly by city and county officials. Robert Thomas Northcut, 49, who has lived on the streets of Solana Beach for more than a decade, was arrested last week on suspicion of trespassing on a city-owned traffic median where a war memorial sits. Sam Georges, a lawyer from Solana Beach, and Chris Tatem, owner of the Do-It-Yourself Dog Wash in Solana Beach, helped get Northcut out of jail. Now they and several other residents are working to handle his legal problems, including reuniting him with his dog, which was taken to a county animal shelter when he was arrested. "The only thing I own is that damn dog," Northcut said Monday while lying in the grass overlooking Fletcher Cove. "He's my dog and he's faithful to me." Even before Northcut's arrest, neighbors banded together to help him out and bring him food. They even cared for his dog, getting it neutered, vaccinated and registered with the county. "It's not one person; it's the whole community," said Tatem. They said that Northcut doesn't panhandle or bother their customers and that he just wants to be left alone with his dog to live outdoors. Putting him inside a building, Georges said, would be like "taking a coyote and chaining it in the garage." Northcut's German shepherd -- named Thomas Jefferson, or T.J. for short -- remains in custody at the county animal shelter in Carlsbad for lunging and barking at city and transit employees. The dog bit a man in May, according to animal control officials, and city staff members say it threatened several maintenance workers and one department head. Northcut admitted that his dog has bitten people, but said T.J. was just protecting his master. The dog had been abused before being rescued in Tijuana and nursed back to health by Northcut and Tatem. "He's a very feisty animal. He's addle-brained," Northcut said. "He's a lot like me. He's all nervous like me." Members of the county Dangerous Dog Task Force are expected to decide today whether to issue a notice declaring T.J. a public nuisance. If that happens, a hearing will follow, and the dog could be required to wear a muzzle or be fenced off from the public entirely. Northcut said he and T.J. set up camp at the war memorial after he heard reports on a portable radio of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. For the next few days, Northcut, who said he is a Navy veteran, raised and lowered the U.S. flag on a pole near the memorial to half-staff to honor victims. "He was taking care of the war memorial," Georges said. "It was his effort to 9/11." He said that the city is "bullying" Northcut for crushing plants that surround the World War II memorial where Northcut and T.J. had been sleeping, and that the county should return his dog. "He's just lost without his dog," Georges said. "If the city doesn't want him around, there are definitely more humane ways to get him away from there." City officials said the traffic median, on Plaza Street and surrounded by cars heading to and from Fletcher Cove, is not a safe spot to hang around. A "No Trespassing" sign is posted near the flagpole, which shares the crowded median with a large fountain and the memorial. "There really isn't a place for people to congregate," said City Manager Bob Semple. "It wasn't meant to be used for people to gather there." Northcut has been cited several times for trespassing at other spots in the city. Jennifer Lynch, the Vista attorney whom Georges asked to appear in court last week on Northcut's behalf, disagreed with Semple. "To say that there's no trespassing at a war memorial is unconscionable," Lynch said. A court hearing on Northcut's trespassing charge is scheduled for Nov. 15. ________________________________________________________________________________________ Copyright 2001 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
STAFF WRITER
I just spoke to Sam Georges as he was stepping onto the plane for his international flight.
To clarify some matters. The mobile home was offered to RT Northcut about 3 years ago when the weather was very nasty. We are checking to see if something like that is available again.
The court matters that Northcut went through related to a couple of OLD trespassing violations. Back in 96 or 97. The current one the City laid on him will be having it's Court date November 15th. Jennifer and another lawyer will be there to defend him.
Thomas M. Campbell, Solana Beach Mayor
635 South Highway 101,
Solana Beach, CA 92075
Phone - (858) 720-2400
Fax - (858) 792-6513/755-1782
Click Here to e-mail Solano Beach City Hall.
San Diego County Animal Control e-mail
DACInfo@co.san-diego.ca.us
Communicate! Let the Sons of....
to send a link of this ( or a copy of the story ) to a lot of people, papers, talk show hosts, etc.?
We should sware in volunteers as part of the Civilian Homeland Security (CHS) force. Sware this guy in and let him guard the flag.
The rest of the CHS can take turns guarding power lines and what not. When are they gonna involve civilians in the civil defense?
You would probably feel more at home at democrats.com
He probably does not want your sympathy anyhow.
I am glad his response was to protect a symbol of his service, but it doesn't sound like he is right in the head.
Why would the Police "all of a sudden' arrest him for this? Is this memorial in a spot in town where a shanty would be unacceptable? Has he had other behaviours where he ran into Police problems, only for this to be the last straw?
His veteran status; is it confirmed? IS he a genuine vet? Are his awards legitimate?
Is it possible he is mentally disturbed, and that is why he is living on his own on the street? It does NOT sound lke a rational act, to go to the town square and protect a memorial, no matter how well intentioned.
I'd like to know more about the guy, but from what I have read in the last few days, it sounds like this guy needs to spend time with a counselor.
< If he is a veteran, he has my sympathy, in fact, if he is NOT a vet, he has my sympathy, but his actions don't sound right to me.
On a serious note ... I am so proud of everybody who has taken a stand and supported this man and his dog. And I'm ESPECIALLY proud of B4Ranch for bringing it to our attention and keeping it to the forefront so that we don't "forget". I pray that God heap multiple blessings upon the pro bono attorneys, too!
GOD BLESS OUR VETS & KEEP THEM SAFE.
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