Sam Vederman drops Deena Blythe case!

Despite the four inch thick file La Paz County Prosecutor Sam Vederman would open up on the table at every court proceeding, he has suddenly dismissed all charges without prejudice (meaning they can be brought back up later), citing a lack of evidence to bring the Deena Blythe case to trial.

What has this lengthy investigation cost the taxpayers? Was Sam Vederman's intent to prosecute or persecute the disgraced local Town Council candidate? Is Sam Vederman so incompetent that he's not capable of arguing the case? After all, some lawyers are just glorified paper pushers that don't really like to litigate. Maybe he should have assigned the case to Thomas Jones and Jessica Quicle, the dynamic duo that secured a conviction against Quartzsite pedophile Richard Eugene Aaron in January of this year. (Prior to the debut of this blog.)

http://paloverdevalleytimes.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=12865

At Ms. Blythe's last court date, her attorney mentioned calling failed mayoral candidate Wes Huntley as a witness for the defense. What effect, if any did that make on the case? Inquiring minds want to know Sam!

Perhaps Vederman struck some back room deal to make this high profile problem disappear. What part did Sam Vederman's pal Police Chief Jeff Gilbert play in this soap opera? After all, if the hypothetical  "evidence" against Deena Blythe were to include any records of emails, phone calls, and/or text messages between Blythe and Chief Gilbert, this would be a very inconvenient time to have that laid out for public consumption on the court record.

How will this decision aid supporters of his recall? Who will eventually replace him? " Just in may of 2010 Sam Vederman, our elected County Attorney got yet ANOTHER traffic violation. Vederman doesn't know how to carry proper registration amongst other infractions. Please see Public Information J-1504-TR-201002648. If you would like to sign a petition for a recall of Sam Vederman please contact recallsamvederman@yahoo.com "

Hey Deena, we know you're reading, so would you care to comment? How about you Sam?

From a reader - THANK YOU!

Comments about Quartzsite PD's "investigation":

http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/archive.cgi/read/141071

FAITHFUL READER NEEDS OUR HELP - HER FRIEND IS MISSING - QUARTZSITE, AZ *PIC*

Posted By: Sandollar
Date: Wednesday, 11-Feb-2009 15:11:00

A faithful reader who contacts me from time to time has asked for our help in trying to locate her close friend. I am hoping that I guessed the correct state being ARIZONA, as none of the information said where Quartzsite is. I googled and it said AZ. Please, they need all of the help they can get. Quartzsite AZ is 127 miles WEST of Phoenix, right off of I 10. Thank you. ********************************************************** Hi, Thank-you Sandollar. Here's a flyer. Laura was driving a maroon SUV Jimmy. She has a son who she would not leave for this long. She also has not used her bank card. Locals including myself have been searching for her as the Quartzsite Town Police are in the search and destroy mode instead of the serve and protect mode and ill-equipped (as in very little usage of intelligence and/or common sense). And have yet to organize a search and rescue. In their words, they have no off road vehicle in which to search. Which is BS. Since along with two rescue dogs,a state of the art SUV, they have quite a few off road vehicles that they are happy to use to run down off road vehicles all over this desert to hand out ridicules tickets. In fact only yesterday DPS found out Laura was missing!! Probably not from the Quartzsite Police either. They have done very little if NOTHING to find her. It's been very cold out. Is anybody out there who can help?? Laura Ann Vittori AKA: Laura Missing Since: 2/6/2009 Sex Female Race White Age 42 Age 44 (At time missing) (Current) Hgt 5Ft6In Wgt 120 Hair Brown Eye Hazel She has brownish blonde hair and she is driving a 1996 Red GMC Jimmy that has a sticker on the back windshield that says "Mega Bitch". She is the one on the left in the photo. Law Enforcement Agency: Report Number: 09-00161 Reward: Contact: Ashley Forrest at 480-528-7916 Leave a tip about this Missing Person

Laura Ann Vittori - Quartzsite's "unsolved mystery"

What does Police Chief Gilbert really know about  the death of Quartzsite resident Laura Vittori?

The story as I heard it is: Laura drove to the store on February 6th, 2009 and disappeared. Her body was later discovered on the edge of Town,  in an area that the Quartzsite Police had supposedly already searched. She was allegedly barefoot, but her feet were too clean to have walked to the spot where her body was discovered. Her car was later found in Kingman...Did I get that correct? 

What I know for sure is, if you do a basic internet search, there's no obituary, no mention of her death outside of the Town Hall meeting minutes and two mentions on the Quartzsite news website. Residents have unanswered questions and our Police Chief has provided no satisfactory answers. It appears the investigation is ongoing, as I have yet to witness that press conference Chief Gilbert promised. Was there an autopsy? If so, What was the cause of death? What happened to this beloved mother of two?

You may post information/tips here anonymously...

This woman's family and friends deserve to know the truth. The community deserves the truth. Please help us find it.

QUARTZSITE HAS NOT FORGOTTEN YOU LAURA!

".. Laura Ann Vittori. AKA: Laura. Missing Since: 2/6/2009. Sex. Female. Race. White. Age. 42"


"A body found in Quartzsite has been identified as that of Laura Ann Vittori, 42, the mother of two missing since February 6 when she left her apartment complex. Vittori is believed to be the victim of foul play and her 1998 GMC 'Jimmy' is still missing."


February 24th, 2009 "Police Chief Jeff Gilbert comments on rumors going around town regarding the death of Laura Vittori. Chief Gilbert reassures everyone that it is being investigated thoroughly"


March 24th, 2009 "they are not able to give any information at this point."


August 11th, 2009 "Police Chief Gilbert comments regarding fliers posted allover town about information regarding the murder of Laura Vittori. Chief Gilbert states it is disturbing and so far there is no evidence indicating Laura died of homicide."


"May 24, 2010 ... Quartzsite Police Chief Jeff Gilbert announced Tuesday that the Quartzsite Police are still investigating the death of Laura Vittori, the local woman found slain in a field behind the Exxon station on Exit 19 in Quartzsite"


June 9th, 2010 "Gilbert also indicated that the  death of Laura Vittori is still considered to be an ongoing investigation. He stated that there was no safety concern for Quartzsite citizens since there are no obvious signs that Vittori's death was, indeed, a homicide. Gilbert further stated that as more information becomes available in the case, he will provide that information to the public via press release." 

http://www.ci.quartzsite.az.us/wp-content/uploads/022409-mins.pdf
http://www.ci.quartzsite.az.us/wp-content/uploads/032409-mins.pdf
http://www.ci.quartzsite.az.us/wp-content/uploads/081109-mins.pdf
http://www.straight8communications.com/quartzsitenews.tv/newsarchives2.htm
http://www.straight8communications.com/quartzsitenews.tv/council.htm

Police Chief Jeff Gilbert demands retraction and apology

Response to this was "See you in court." and I'm looking forward to it. That is, if Jeff hasn't been arrested by then! Better not use Pamela Walsma as your attorney, she represents the Town, not you personally Jeff. Wait, use her if you want, I could beat her in court in pro se....

"Over the past several months you both have engaged in a campaign to discredit and damage the reputation of myself, Jeff Gilbert, Chief of Police for the Quartzsite Police Department, members of the Quartzsite Police Department, my spouse Sondra Gilbert and to cause disruption and discredit to the lawful business of the Quartzsite Police Department by posting libelous, slanderous, false statements and negative comments on your Internet Blog, www.quartzsitearizona.blogspot.com.

In addition, you have posted my personal addresses along with photos of my home which is a violation of ARS 13-2401.A. “Personal information on the World Wide Web”; a class 5 felony. Repeated request and demands to the “blogger” administrator to remove this information have been ignored. Your intentional and deliberate dissemination of my personal information to include my addresses and photo of my home poses an imminent and serious threat to my safety and my immediate family’s safety due to my position as Chief of Police and as a police officer, and you have personal and common knowledge of persons who may wish to due harm to me and or my family.    

This letter is a demand that you take down all blog entries regarding Jeff Gilbert, Chief of Police, Sondra Gilbert, and the Quartzsite Police Department and its members, together with the entire thread of comments. I further demand that you cease and desist from any further attempts to injure, defame, discredit and to interfere with the effective lawful actions of the Quartzsite Police Department.  

The libellous, slanderous and false information on your Internet Blog were published deliberately, maliciously, and wilfully with the intent to cause damage to the character, profession, reputation and career of myself, Jeff Gilbert, Chief of Police, spouse Sondra Gilbert, the Quartzsite Police Department and it’s members.

I demand that you immediately cease and desist all such activities, or I will take the appropriate civil and criminal legal steps to protect my rights, the rights of Sondra Gilbert and the rights of the Quartzsite Police Department including, without limitation, filing claims for libel, slander, defamation and to pursue criminal prosecution for harassment.

Your blog postings and conduct also constitute tortuous interference with the lawful business of the Quartzsite Police Department by attempting to discredit myself, as the Chief of Police along with the members of the Department. As such, they are actionable and expose you to the imposition of compensatory as well as punitive damages, as well as criminal harassment actions.

In consequence therefore, I demand an immediate retraction and public apology to be published in the same manner the defamatory publication was made within 3 days of your receipt of this letter.

It is apparent that you do not agree with me personally or professionally, or with the lawful actions of the Quartzsite Police Department. That, however, does not entitle you to publish defamatory, false, libelous and slanderous statements in an attempt to discredit myself, my spouse, members of the Quartzsite Police Department and to publish this information with the intent to interrupt and interfere with the lawful actions of the Department, and to place my family and myself in immediate danger by publishing my personal information."

Jeff Gilbert

Chief of Police

Quartzsite Police Department

PO Box 2812, Quartzsite , AZ 85359

928-927-4644

qsite1@ci.quartzsite.az.us

The ad hoc inquisition - a personal vendetta on public time

 Barbara Cowell, Jose Lizzarraga and Bob Kelley

recently formed an "ad hoc" committee to charge Mayor Ed Foster with ethics violations.

ad hoc committee

 A committee formed with the purpose of addressing a specific issue or issues, which theoretically is disbanded once its reason for being is finished

Now, this is pretty hilarious when you consider the current state of ethics at Town Hall. Funnier still is that their accusations begin before Foster was even elected as Mayor. (It seems Jose holds a really big grudge about that Superior Court mandamus asking the Council and former wanna be mayor Wes Huntley to actually obey the law!) And now the inquisitors have demanded that Mayor Foster appear before them on August 24th, to answer for his actions. But...that's not going to happen.

If you're not one of the three stooges who received this in their box at Town Hall today, this was our Mayor's reply:


To:
 Barbra Cowell vice Mayor, Chair person Ad Hoc Committee
Subject:
Appearance before said committee
August 16, 2010

Ms. Cowell
I will not be appearing before your committee on August 24 or at any other time.  I have been advised that the possibility of a fair hearing on the absurd charges presented in the documents you have provided is not possible. This is another in a long list of attacks that began as soon as I was elected and I will not lend any legitimacy to the allegations your committee has leveled against me with my appearance before your committee.
Two members of this committee have publicly condemned me with at least one indicating he would never forgive me for bringing charges against him in Superior Court.  This leaves no doubt as to the outcome of my appearance before this committee and suggests some less than honorable motives.  I will still let any council member express their opinion of me publicly during council meetings, because I do believe in the freedom of speech.
I was elected by the people and I have fulfilled my oath of office to preserve and protect the Constitution and the laws of The State of Arizona since I have been sworn in as Mayor. I don’t believe your committee is the appropriate authority to question the wisdom of the people, but if any person believes that I have violated any law in the discharge of my duties as Mayor they are welcome to file charges against me with the appropriate authority.

                                Ed foster
                                Mayor Quartzsite, AZ
Cc:
Councilman Jose  Lizzarraga
Councilman Bob Kelly


Copies of this letter have been posted around Quartzsite, for the public to read.

Now I ask you....is it appropriate for members of the Town Council to use their public office for a personal vendetta?  Is this in the best interest of the community? Did you elect them to do your business, or their own?

AZ Dems exposed as Socialist Party members

The Socialist Party of America announced in their October 2009 newsletter that 70 Congressional democrats currently belong to their caucus.
This admission was recently posted on Scribd.com:

Q: How many members of the U.S. Congress are also members of the DSA?
A: Seventy
Q: How many of the DSA members sit on the Judiciary Committee?
A: Eleven: John Conyers [Chairman of the Judiciary Committee], Tammy Baldwin, Jerrold Nadler, Luis Gutierrez,
Melvin Watt, Maxine Waters, Hank Johnson, Steve Cohen, Barbara Lee, Robert Wexler, Linda Sanchez [there are 23 Democrats on the Judiciary Committee of which eleven, almost half, are now members of the DSA].
Q: Who are the AZ members of 111th Congress?

Committee Co-Chair
Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07) THIS IS OUR DISTRICT PEOPLE! Pick anyone else from this list PLEASE, I BEG OF YOU!
http://azcapitoltimes.com/election-2010/congressional-district-7/

Ed Pastor (AZ-04)

For the entire list, see:
http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2010/08/american-socialists-release-names-of-70-congressional-democrats-in-their-caucus/

FBI removes evidence from Quartzsite Police Dept. - post your incident please

Wednesday, the FBI removed what I can only assume was dash cam video and other evidence confiscated from the Quartzsite Police Department. Word around Town is that this visit by the FBI may be related to a recent traffic stop by a Hispanic QPD officer on Interstate 10 which resulted in a sexual harassment complaint to the AZ Attorney General by the female driver. She is rumored to be a reporter for the L. A. Times newspaper that recorded the encounter during which she was directed to follow the officer to Richard Oldham's airport and provide sexual favors in exchange for not receiving a citation. As of this post, these allegations have yet to be verified, however, it has been verified that the Quartzsite Police have been directed to have more than one officer respond, and if the suspect is female, an officer from an outside enforcement jurisdiction such as the County Sheriff or DPS must be present before QPD can even make contact.

My favorite rumor unearthed in the past few days is that Police Chief Jeff Gilbert has been sending out his resume! Gee I hope that one is true, but it won't get him off the hook for pending civil litigation or potential criminal charges. So much for Gilbert's hollow protests that he and his department have been cleared of all wrongdoing.

This thread is for the sole purpose of collecting all of the known misconduct and crimes (both alleged and convicted) in one place for those FBI agents currently looking into these matters. Comments defending the QPD can be submitted elsewhere, but this comment threat will not be used for that purpose. Let's start with the other most recently exposed scandal.

Officer Josh Starr has been accused of "statutory rape" and federal violation of the Mann Act. According to statute, I can see no plausible defense for the alleged actions or Police Chief Jeff Gilbert's refusal to investigate the matter when it was first reported to him last year by the father, Sean Austin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_North_America#Arizona

It is a defense to a prosecution pursuant to section 13-1405 if the victim is fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age, the defendant is under nineteen years of age or attending high school and is no more than twenty-four months older than the victim and the conduct is consensual.

http://www.azpost.state.az.us/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.htm

R13-4-105. Minimum Qualifications for Appointment

A. Except as provided in subsection (C) or (D), a person shall meet the following minimum qualifications before being appointed to or attending an academy:

1. Be a United States citizen;

2. Be at least 21 years of age, except that a person may attend an academy if the person will be 21 before graduating;
Sorry Josh, I don't know your birthday, but the math doesn't work. You seem like a likable fellow, so I hope you have a good attorney.

Deja vu! This is reminiscent of a previous officer, whose actions resulted in a felony conviction.

QPD Officer Kirk D. Peterson
Case NO:  S-1500-CR-98000324
Sexual Conduct with a minor = GUILTY
Molestation of Child              = GUILTY
Sentenced to 16 years, last know prison, Florance Prison, AZ
Case Date:  1998-1999

http://www.azcorrections.gov/inmate_datasearch/results_Minh.aspx?InmateNumber=145121&LastName=PETERSON&FNMI=K&SearchType=SearchInet

The case involved a 12 year old girl that allegedly became pregnant (father unknown,. however, QPD Officer Peterson was ordered to pay monthly "restitution"),  A noticeable difference between these cases is the swift investigation conducted in the Peterson case. You might conclude that Vice Mayor Cowell and the rest of the Town Council would have been beating the drum for the diligent investigation of Josh Starr, yet they appear to have no interest and be solidly in Chief Gilbert's camp. Why is Mayor Foster the only one showing concern?

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COURT DOCUMENTED FACT: On 12-31-09, Duty Sergeant Xavier Frausto engaged in an illegal warrantless search of a building on the property of Vito Austin's RV park. False charges against Mr. Austin were dismissed by prosecutor Matt Newman. When Mr. Austin (the brother of the complainant in the aforementioned case) went to the QPD and Town Hall to make a formal complaint against Sgt Frausto (husband of the Town's Magistrate), Chief Gilbert threatened to arrest Vito for "disorderly conduct".

This spring, Chief Gilbert targeted Vito Austin for voting fraud, which resulted in a Grand Jury indictment and subsequent charge against Mr. Austin. Austin plead "not guilty" and the case is currently set for trial.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As publicized in "The Gem" newspaper, on April 23rd, 2008 Quartzsite Duty Sergeant Frausto and Officer Rodriguez along with a third officer illegally searched the private residence of Jennifer Harris and threatened her under color of law after she repeatedly asked for a search warrant. This was openly admitted to in Officer Rodriguez' incident report and is part of La Paz County court records.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Complaints from the internet:
http://gosw.about.com/b/2009/01/29/travel-horror-stories-bad-experience-in-quartzsite.htm
"And we were charged $l79.00 for this little mistake. The Policeman told me the city needed the money."

http://www.vagabondjourney.com/travelogue/arrival-in-the-desert-quartzsite-arizona/ 
"I pulled into Quartzsite at night after running a gauntlet of agressively patroling highway police. I was driving in Arizona within 40 miles of the California border, and I passed no less than ten police cars who had pulled vehcles over and were in the process of thorouughly searching them and interrogating their drivers."

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/quartzsite-az/TGVP2A8APC2KV5P4E
"To add insult to injury, there is a growing police presence around town that was unknown a couple of years ago. The police are now shaking down out of state tourists. I should know - I got a ticket for something frivilous. I will never go back to Quartzsite.

http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Justice.Court.Quartzsite.928-927-6313/review/read?cid=963407
"I received a ticket two years ago. I paid the fine on time. Then they claimed it was late,I have a copy of the cashed check from Quartzsite. I paid another twenty dollars. Now I discover I have a failure to appear on record. The worst part is that I should not have gotten a ticket as I was not speeding. I was behind a series of trucks and a group of cars went by on my left , I oulled out to pass at 7o mph and the patrol said I was doing 90 he wrote me up for 80 in a 70. He was an angry trooper and was angry that I even tried to explain i thought he was going to oull me out of the car and accused me of being a danger to the public. it was absolutley insane and now they do this. What am to do. They dont respond to anything. i live in Florida and I cant afford to go all the way to Quartzsite of allplace."

Mayor Foster on Declare Your Independence with Ernest Hancock!

 FREEDOM'S THE ANSWER. WHAT'S THE QUESTION?

http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Feature-Article.htm?Info=0109449

Now, I'm sure you already listen to "Declare Your Independence" with national radio talk show celebrity, Ernest Hanckock, so you all heard this live...right?

Well, in all the spare time I don't have while working on tomorrows expose, I found the link to the podcast so that you can play it over and over. A very interesting discussion about the "burning man for senior citizens" that we know and love as Quartzsite with some of history from the BF (before Foster) era.

 Listen to the whole show as it takes a bit for Ernie to get around to his point, which is the proper role of government and how a small town like Quartzsite parallels government at a every level. The second hour gets really interesting.

 Ernie wants to know how Quartzsite government redistributes wealth. Guess what? So do the rest of us! But Town mismanager Alex Taft still hasn't filled Mayor Foster's open records requests as she was ordered to do by the Ombudsman at the State Attorney General's Office, and as she was advised to do by Acting Town Attorney Steven Shadle.

 The first hour:

 http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Uploads/001/Media/2010-08-09-ernie-a.mp3

The second hour:

http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Uploads/001/Media/2010-08-09-ernie-b.mp3

Affordable community pool on a Quartzsite budget!

Finally, a community swimming pool that even Quartzsite can afford! This cool story made international news this week. NYC converted three unused dumpsters into public swimming pools and put them right on Park Ave. as part of the city's "Summer Streets" initiative.

Temporary decks were erected around the 4' 3" deep pools and lifeguards were on duty.

The City provided street showers for those impulsive folks who didn't pack a bathing suit, but wanted to cool down anyway.

Portable changing cabanas were set up for those that planned ahead and brought a suit.

Unfortunately for residents of Quartzsite who desperately need a community pool this innovative solution would likely end up buried in the same bureaucracy and infighting that seems to squash any great idea that Alex Taft doesn't come up with herself.

Those shiny, clean, red C & D disposal dumpsters would certainly be swim worthy in this heat, but you can bet Taft and her cronies would rather give the children one of those old, dirty, dented Palo Verde Disposal dumpsters to swim in instead. After all, Palo Verde appears to have the inside track after they donated the land for Taft's Willpower Inc. dirty, dented, broken trailers/makeshift Quartzsite animal shelter. Councilman Winslow proudly announced it is finally almost completed, yet they've had animals there for months without even passing inspection.

Maybe, some private philanthropist would be willing to negotiate with C & D for a dumpster pool before another resident dies of heat exhaustion. If we wait for Town Hall to reach a consensus, all the currently registered voters will surely be dead

Watch the dumpster pool video here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10905487

Sheriff Don Lowery to join Sam Vederman in La Paz County recall

http://www.parkerpioneer.net/articles/2010/08/04/news/parker03.txt

Text from the recall petition:

*Sheriff Lowery does not have the experience, management skills or budget preparation to carry out his position. *Lowery has shown unwillingness to work with the Board, County Manager and Finance Department. *Lowery appointed Under Sheriff Paterson, with compromised managerial skills, fiscal understanding or ability to communicate with key figures in county government.  Paterson has micro-managed personnel to the point that moral is at its lowest. *Lowery has shown an inability to make command decisions because of his lack of knowledge of the position and what it stands for.  Continuously “unavailable” for key decisions and issues needing to be resolved *Lowery moved or kept personnel in key positions that do not deserve or belong. *Lowery filed a frivolous law suit against the Board.  Paterson did not follow proper procedures in obtaining legal council resulting in unpaid attorney fees.  This is a flagrant misappropriation of funds and tax payers money.  Decisions to obtain legal counsel was pushed through by Paterson, but was ultimately Lowery’s decision. *Continuously allowing agency staff to drive county assigned vehicles to Havasu daily.  This is a flagrant violation of county policy and procedure and waste of taxpayers money. An interesteing comment thread can be found at: http://www.parkerliveonline.com/2010/08/16/sheriff-recall/