Posted on 03/16/2003 1:50:37 PM PST by bonesmccoy
Fence owner faces charge Property owner alleges retaliation By Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell , Staff Writer
LA HABRA -- Jeff Collison, owner of the property on which the now-famous Sept. 11, 2001, memorial fence is located, received papers Thursday from the city's prosecutor charging him with misdemeanor failure to obtain city licenses and permits.
City Prosecutor Cynthia Blaylock said these charges are unrelated to this week's developments concerning the fence.
Included in Thursday's charges are failure to obtain a required business license, failure to get a conditional-use permit required for recreational vehicle sales and rentals, failure to build a 6- foot masonry wall between his business and neighboring buildings and failing to maintain a front yard of not less than 15 feet on the property.
Collison, who owns The RV Center on Whittier Boulevard, said the charges and notification of a court appearance March 27 at the North Justice Center in Fullerton came as a shock during a week when the patriotic fence on his property was propelled into the national spotlight.
American flags were burned and slashed Sunday by vandals who also changed tribute messages on the site into antiwar language. A Whittier Daily News story Tuesday drew nationwide attention on the Internet's Drudge Report, igniting a blizzard of e-mails critical of the vandals and handling of the case by La Habra police.
"I purchased this property last July, and I had hired a civil engineer to negotiate with the city on getting the conditional-use permit, and I had no contact regarding this by the city,' he said. "I can't help thinking (that this is retaliatory) because it was issued on March 11, the day after we made a big fuss about the vandalism of the fence with the police ... and I will file a lawsuit against the city and the Police Department.'
Blaylock and La Habra Chief of Police Dennis R. Kies on Thursday denied that the criminal charges had anything to do with the situation at the memorial fence.
"I drafted the criminal complaint against him a week and a half ago, and I knew nothing about the fence when I did it,' Blaylock said. "We can't ignore people violating the law because something else happened.'
According to Kies, this case has been in the works since July, 2002 when Collison moved his business to the property on Whittier Boulevard.
"He needed a CUP for storage, rental and sales of the motor homes he stores and also a business license, so he had someone come in on his behalf and prepare the request for the CUP,' said Kies. "In October, the Planning Department returned the application to Jeff because more information was needed. Then a final notice was sent to him in January saying this is your final notice because you haven't complied with the CUP.'
In addition, Kies said, in January, Collison started storing motor homes on the property across the street on Whittier Boulevard, where the memorial fence is, and needed the same CUP for that.
"Because of this ... the prosecutor determined that Collison should be prosecuted, and that was well before the current incident,' said Kies. "This has been an ongoing issue and Mr. Collison is aware of that.'
Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell can be reached at (562) 698-0955, Ext. 3028, or by e- mail at debbie.pfeiffer@sgvn.com .
Sure. Has nothing to do with La Habra police standing around watching the destruction of private property and claiming it's just free speech. Just regular business. That the city seems to be trying to preempt Mr. Collison from filing a suit against the city for the police officers' failure to serve and protect as vandals destroyed a private memorial on his property is just a coincidence.
I suggest Mr. Collison IMMEDIATELY sue the city because members of it's police department witnessed people breaking the law, but did noting about it because the offenders were activizmnazis. If they try to make a stink, he can tell them it's just a coincidence : it has nothing to do with misdemeanor charges over some vague city regulations dealing with his business.
I think Duffy on KKLA might be interested if we call his program.
Quoting the website: CYNTHIA BLAYLOCK Police Litigation, Employment Law, Municipal Law Ms. Blaylock brings a focus on law enforcement labor, employment and tort defense to the firm of Jones & Mayer. Ms. Blaylock is a trial attorney representing law enforcement mangement on personnel and labor issues, administrative investigations, disciplinary actions and appeals, with a special emphasis on civil rights litigation. Her litigation experience representing municipalities in a variety of civil actions has included practicing in both state and federal courts. Additionally, Ms. Blaylock serves as a Deputy City Prosecutor for several of Southern California cities. In that capacity, she prosecutes municipal violations and carries out public nuisance abatement procedures. Ms. Blaylock teaches legal seminars for the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) and also for the California Police Officers Association (CPOA). Prior to developing a practice in law enforcement, Ms. Blaylock specialized in business litigation in both commercial and bankruptcy areas. Her clients included large financial institutions and asset-based lenders. Ms. Blaylock attended Cal State Polytechnic University in Pomona, Western State University, the Rio Hondo Police Academy and Police Reserve Academy.
Email sent to Rush's private inbox!
Fox News contacted!
friends@foxnews.com; Comments@foxnews.com; Foxreport@foxnews.com; Hannity@foxnews.com; Myword@foxnews.com; Oreilly@foxnews.com; Cavuto@foxnews.com
Ms. Blaylock brings a focus on law enforcement labor, employment and tort defense to the firm of Jones & Mayer. Ms. Blaylock is a trial attorney representing law enforcement mangement on personnel and labor issues, administrative investigations, disciplinary actions and appeals, with a special emphasis on civil rights litigation.
Her litigation experience representing municipalities in a variety of civil actions has included practicing in both state and federal courts. Additionally, Ms. Blaylock serves as a Deputy City Prosecutor for several of Southern California cities. In that capacity, she prosecutes municipal violations and carries out public nuisance abatement procedures. Ms. Blaylock teaches legal seminars for the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) and also for the California Police Officers Association (CPOA).
Prior to developing a practice in law enforcement, Ms. Blaylock specialized in business litigation in both commercial and bankruptcy areas. Her clients included large financial institutions and asset-based lenders.
Ms. Blaylock attended Cal State Polytechnic University in Pomona, Western State University, the Rio Hondo Police Academy and Police Reserve Academy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.