In front of an all time record setting crowd, estimated at over 200, Barbara Bowman shoved Republican Precinct Committeeman Michael Roth, then former Mayor Steve Bennett grabbed him by the back of his T shirt. The excitement took place after AZCOPS Vice President John Stair made his presentation on behalf of the Quartzsite Police Officers Association. Another man came to Roth's defense. However, it was Roth who was arrested by Chief Gilbert and his merry band of thugs, Xavier Frausto and Rick Patterson, with Fabiola Garcia rushing in to bring up the rear.
Photo from Parker Pioneer
Ah yes, Quartzsite...the charming little desert town where YOU get arrested for the privilege of being assaulted! Roth was charged with "disorderly conduct" and "resisting arrest", even though he never resisted and was noticeable rough handled by Frausto , who shoved him through the crowd..."Clearly, somebody was going to get arrested at the meeting. For a while we thought it was going to be one of us." said one of the Quartzsite officers who is asking for the chief's dismissal. Numerous witnesses have expressed a willingness to testify on Roth's behalf.
All members of the Quartzsite Town Council literally turned their backs on our police officers, on public safety and on the citizens they are supposed to represent when they once again walked out of the meeting and tried to bring it to a halt for lack of a quorum. Clearly, a riot could have easily broken out, (and almost did) due to their childish behavior. Town Attorney Pamela Walsma repeatedly exceeded her position by interrupting the mayor and offering her unsolicited opinions, to which Mayor Foster responded "I have it on good authority that once a quorum is established, the meeting may proceed." He reminded her that a legal opinion is just that - an opinion. (And hers has proven to be worthless, time and time again.) Foster also pointed out to the spectators that members of council were having in illegal quorum in the adjoining room, as he patiently waited for them to return to their duty.
New Town Prosecutor Martin Brannan sat next to Walsma for a time, but even he walked out on the meeting. It must have been disturbing to see his prosecution witnesses on the QPD standing in solidarity against his employers!
"Dirty Laundry" Lukkasson is convening another "ad hoc" committee at taxpayers expense to say he doesn't like the Mayor for calling the special meeting on June 1st. It was obvious that he didn't even write his own last minute agenda item, because he couldn't even read it. A witness has come forward that claims Alex Taft was coaching him that morning at his Main St. Eatery.
The police chief's wife Sondra had to be "detained" by her husband, on the way out of the meeting.
Councilman Jose Lizarraga was expected to resign after pulling nomination papers to run for Mayor against Ed Foster, but it didn't happen.
38-296. Limitation upon filing for election by incumbent of elective office
A. Except during the final year of the term being served, no incumbent of a salaried elective office, whether holding by election or appointment, may offer himself for nomination or election to any salaried local, state or federal office.
B. An incumbent of a salaried elected office shall be deemed to have offered himself for nomination or election to a salaried local, state or federal office upon the filing of a nomination paper pursuant to section 16-311, subsection A or formal public declaration of candidacy for such office whichever occurs first.
C. The resignation of the incumbent elective officer duly filed in writing with the officer, board or commission having jurisdiction of the office shall, if not accepted within ten days, be deemed to have become effective as of the date of filing.
D. This section shall not be construed to prohibit a person whose resignation from office has become effective from qualifying as a candidate for another office during the unexpired portion of the term affected by the resignation, nor shall it apply to any incumbent elective officer who seeks re-election to the same office or to any other public office during the final year of the term to which he has been so elected.
E. A person violating any provision of this section is guilty of misfeasance in office and the office held by such person shall be declared vacant.
Posts
What a disgrace SHAME on the Quartzsite Town Council for walking out of the meeting. The QPOA has the right to be heard they should not have to put up with Chief Gilberts threats and intimidation tactics. Where does Jeff get off approaching the AZCOPS Vice President and standing next to him while he was speaking. Jeff's actions were totally uncalled for and show his complete disregard for a persons right to free speech during a call to the public. The Council must immediately place him on administrative leave pending the outcome of a criminal investigation by Arizona DPS. After last night's meeting it is evident that Jeff must go he has exposed the town and it's residents to high liability which will result in multiple law suits against the town. Also Shame on Town Attorney Martin Brannan what was the council thinking when they hired him? Everyone in law enforcement circles knows that Jeff landed him the job that he now holds just look at Brannan's prosecutorial record during his term as La Paz County Attorney numerous case dismissals due his failure to obtain criminal complaints. Because of Brannan's antics and stalling a rapist (Russell Chavez) was released and placed back on the street.
ReplyDeleteWOW! Chief of Police Jeff Gilbert is collapsing like World Trade Center 7 (YouTube it!) And his wife is falling even faster. The citizens are waking up and even joining in on the ass kicking. I never thought in a million years this town could start to dig itself out of the hole it has dug! Maybe there is a God?
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS ARIZONA,NOT MEXICO.ABUSE THE BADGE,LOSE THE BADGE.
ReplyDeleteJeff you had no business walking up front while AZCOPS rep was speaking how childish you are Jeff just what point did you make standing there like a jackass folding your arms with that smerk on your face? Really Jeff grow up and do the right thing and just resign, I'm ashamed to even work with you. You do not do things the right way, making Fabby a Sgt she is the most under experienced officer you have, hasn't learned much since she's been there is very difficult to work with and has no respect for any of her fellow co-workers. And Rick you made a big mistake bringing him on board after the crap he pulled at the Sheriff's department thinking he ran the department and did things he wasn't asked to do or even told to to by Sheriff Lowery, you dumbass he wants your job Jeff. But let him suck up to you the town will see what a jerk Rick is and he will never be hired as a police chief. Time is running out Jeff your gonna be brought down your good friend Brannon can't get you out of this. Crit should of fired you a long time ago. I'm so very proud of these officers speaking up after watching you do the crap you have no business doing. You make the Police Department look bad shame on you Jeff, pack you things up and get out! And take your snotty wife with you. It's been a long time coming to see the real Jeff Gilbert revealed. You are an embarrassement to this town.
ReplyDeleteAfter a shot or two from that bottle with the pink stuff I can only say after viewing the videos of Jeffys wife I can now begin to believe the rumors that he was having affairs with Alex and the other woman. Sorry, but I need another dose of that pink stuff to settle my stomach.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton just to name a few, must be rolling over in their graves because of the actions this last Tuesday night by the Council Members of the Town of Quartzsite, Arizona. Never could they have imagined that elected government officials refusing to observe the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights are erasing everything that they had fought and died for!
ReplyDeleteThe citizens of Quartzsite are now at an impasse. They can just lay down and allow the boots of Al Johnson and Jeff Gilbert to walk upon them as they grind their heals into their heads, or stand together and demand that the United States Attorney General come forth to conduct a full investigation into the Civil Rights and Due Process violations of Town Manager Alex Taft, Asst Town Manager Al Johnson, Chief Jeff Gilbert, (and each member of this “Brown Nose Posse”) Town Attorney Pamela Walsma, and each Town Council member!
It looks like the good folks in Quartz site are finally getting their priorities together. The video clearly shows who the real cynical bully's are. Good luck to you all!
ReplyDeleteI have a dream. I dream of a day when people will post their names on their posts and really take a stand. All of this anonymous posting makes me think people are only half committed to bring truth and justice to the forefront here.
ReplyDeleteCheck out the Million Dollar Money Shot and misleading article at www.parkerpioneer.net. All I could do was laugh. I'll pay $100 for an Original Photograph of that.
Go here... What a hoot!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.parkerpioneer.net/articles/2011/06/16/news/doc4dfa46a3555fd359528700.txt
I don't want to post a comment, for fear of the police chief retaliation
ReplyDeleteCrazy Snyder has another video that shows Roth was compliant. Clearly he didn't resist and Vederman will likely not be pursuing the felony charge. I heard he threw the "hot potato" back into Quartzsite's court.
ReplyDeleteSteve Bennett grabbed Michael Roth from behind . all michael roth did was try to get away .
ReplyDeleteJust more proof Jeff will arrest anyone for anything even if it's something stupid, he would arrest his own family if he thought of it. Just because people are speaking the TRUTH about you Jeff and letting it known they don't like you and think you suck as a police chief doesn't give you the right to arrest them or run their plate or do a warrant check on them. SHAME ON YOU! And to the poster who wishes we would all post our names, we don't need to do that, our officers know we stand behind them and are proud of them for standing up for what is right. Some of these people who post on here don't want retaliation from Jeff or their work place as some of us work for other entities that deal with Jeff.
ReplyDeleteYou proclaim free speech but won't ever post all the pro Vederman posts I have been trying to get on here!!
ReplyDeleteSam Vederman is doing a great job as the La Paz County Attorney!!!!
Vederman 2012!!!!
Where are all of Gilbert's sycophants? Shouldn't they be crawling out from under their rocks to defend their favorite snake? If I had signed Wes Huntley's travelling billboard I'd be buying whiteout tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteThe reason some of us post as Anonymous is in fear of retaliation from him. From what I hear there might be another lawsuit and or case against him.
ReplyDeleteDo you think John Gutekunst would supply me with a PDF or a jpeg of that image? I want to put that on this years Christmas Card to all of my sane patriot friends.
ReplyDeletePLLLLEEEEAAASSSSSEEEEE John?
IS THIS AMERICA?WHEN A POLICE CHIEF ORDERS HIS SUBORDINATES TO HARASS HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS HE BELONGS IN PRISON AND HE SHOULD LOSE HIS PENSION TO REMIND ALL WHO WOULD BE DICTATORS THAT THIS IS STILL AMERICA!!!AND SHAME ON THE ENTIRE TOWN COUNCIL WHO SUPPORTS HIM!YOU ARE ALL CULPABLE IN HIS CRIMINAL ACTS.
ReplyDeleteThe next meeting please tell the person holding the camera to point it at the crowd and not empty chairs, after the town members walked out why are we looking at empty chairs? The action was with the crowd leaving.
ReplyDeleteIt would appear upon the facts viewed in the video’s of Michael Roth’s arrest that the Town of Quartzsite, Chief Jeff Gilbert, Sgt. Xavier Frausto, Off. Rick Patterson (La Paz Sheriff’s reject), Asst. Town Manager Al Johnson, and former Mayor Steve Bennett will face civil court action that they can never defend themselves against much less win. Let’s not forget adding in criminal actions at both the Arizona State level and U.S. Federal courts!
ReplyDeleteWhat needs to be answered here and now is how does Town Manager Alex Taft’s Law Firms investigation into the complaints against Chief Jeff Gilbert be a true investigation when that firm can NOT follow the regulations set forth in the Quartzsite OPM. It clearly states that ALL criminal complaints must be investigated by an outside agency and the suspect MUST be placed upon administrative leave pending that investigation!
Did the Town Council, Town Manager Alex Taft, Asst. Town Manager Al Johnson, Chief Jeff Gilbert with the advice of Town Attorney Pamela Wilsma conspire (before Tuesdays meeting) to violate the law and keep a formal report in public from being heard that would force them to place Chief Jeff Gilbert on Administrative leave and conduct a true and legal investigation into the alleged criminal charges by members of the QPD?
Did we not see with our own eyes the Council Members walk out into the adjoining room twice conducting a private meeting against Arizona State Law? Just what in a legal investigation conducted by the DPS could reveal that they are so afraid of?
In response to this post above:
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
You proclaim free speech but won't ever post all the pro Vederman posts I have been trying to get on here!!
Sam Vederman is doing a great job as the La Paz County Attorney!!!!
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If you want to use someone's private blog site to skirt campaign finance limits for advertising, do it elsewhere. "Anonymous" campaigning for Sam Vederman will be treated as spam when posted here. He can fight his own uphill reelection campaign battles in a paid for advertisement somewhere else. And as for his doing a "great job", how much has Mr. Roth's "disorderly conduct" trial cost the taxpayers now that it is in the District 1 Appellate Court and the wrongful conviction will likely be overturned? If Vederman was even a mediocre attorney, he would have known the well puplished case precedents in that case, and never brought it to trial.
Besides, Vederman's campaign was endorsed by La Paz County Sheriff Joe Escorza, who stole 2 quads from the Riverside County Sheriff's Office, and had porn on his work computer at his office in Salome High School? I see Escorza wasn't arrested and tried like Roth was..."good job"? Give me a break!
Good Job AR! Rat Tat Tat. Keep 'em under fire like Joe would!
ReplyDeleteTO: Vederman Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteNext time, use your real name and maybe someone will post your views. However, Too many people have seen the real Vederman and I am one that has NO faith in his abilities when I see IMHO political prosecutions and cover-ups of criminal investigations to save his buddies in La Paz County. It is impossible to support any County Attorney that refused to meet with the Citizens of La Paz to hear and investigate their criminal complaints!
I will give Mr. Vederman credit for one thing. After viewing the videos of Michael Roth’s arrest at the June 14th Quartzsite Town meeting, he saw that the charge of Felonious Resisting Arrest was bogus and refused to prosecute Mr. Roth! Mr. Vederman may be seeing the light and considering that his support of Chief Jeff Gilbert may have been in error and will start an investigation into the former cases that have been filed by Chief Jeff Gilbert and see if the La Paz County Attorney’s Office was duped or given false information.
Well, Richard, what do you think of the people that you are responcible for?
ReplyDeleteMr mayor, how does it feel to have these people that supported you act the way they did? Mayby you should run the next meetings with a chair and a whip. They certainly don't respect you or the position you have aquired. Shame on you
Sam Vederman was NOT duped, he was in on it! AND he was given false information, and he KNEW it was false!!! There are several documentable examples of Jeffy and Sammy conspiring to shut down political dissent! They are both shameless scumbags!
ReplyDeleteI was with Mike yesterday when he filed his criminal complaint for assault against Bennett, and that shrieking monkey Barbara Bowman. Now we shall see what becomes of a crime that was caught on video tape...
ReplyDelete