Day 5 - Gundersen's wife again denies rape - UPDATED

UPDATED:

◼ Former Blue Lake Police Chief David Gundersen has been cleared of all major charges first filed against him in 2008. - Arcata Eye MARCH 2012

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☛ TS Gundersen's wife: I didn't think he'd be arrested
Former Blue Lake Police Chief David Gundersen's wife testified today that she lied about being raped to investigators on the day of her husband's arrest out of a desire to have him out of her life.

Under questioning by Gundersen's defense attorney Russell Clanton, Darcie Seal said she had no idea why she was called to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office on Feb. 8, but in hindsight believes it was part of a plot by Gundersen's ex-wife to get him to leave the county and secure full custody of their children.

”Did you think at the time if David Gundersen could be taken from your life .. things would be better?”

”Yeah,” Seal answered.

☛ TS Gundersen's wife again denies rape

Seal also said that she was at an emotional and mental low point at the time, and that her recollection of the events of that February day were fuzzy. She said that her efforts to find the nude photographs on Gundersen's laptop hard drive were unsuccessful, and that Gundersen's ex-wife -- who works at the McKinleyville sheriff's substation -- offered to help retrieve them.

Seal said she didn't want to refuse the offer, in order to keep up an amiable relationship with her. She took the hard drive to the substation on the morning of Feb. 8, Seal said.

When she arrived, Seal said, Gundersen's ex-wife -- whom she'd told about the photos -- asked if she wanted to speak with Lt. Dave Morey. Seal testified that she talked to Morey for a few minutes and asked only that the sheriff's office be prepared for an “appropriate police response” if she and David Gundersen got in a fight.

Seal said she then left the station for an appointment with her therapist. After the session, she got a text message on her phone telling her to call Morey as soon as possible. When called, Morey asked Seal to come to the Eureka station.

Seal said she believed she was going to the station to further discuss a police response, and ended up at the station from 12:30 to 7 p.m. After about an hour and a half -- during which she made the claims about the alleged rapes -- she was taken by Detective Troy Garey to have her blood drawn, then returned to the interview room.

Seal then testified that she became concerned about how things were proceeding.

”I said 'This is going too far,' and I told them about (the ex-wife's) phone call on Jan. 28,” Seal testified.

Seal said that during that phone call Gundersen's ex-wife said her family law attorney Joan Gallegos -- wife of District Attorney Paul Gallegos -- said charges would be filed if his ex-wife wanted. Seal testified that she asked for Gundersen's ex-wife to come to the interview room to explain that.

”I told them it was about getting Dave to move,” Seal said. “I never thought it was going to end up in Dave's arrest.”

☛ ER Alleged victim talks about emotional state

Darcie Seal testified Friday at the trial of her husband, former Blue Lake Police Chief David Gundersen, that as a result of emotional and mental stress stemming from years of mothering children, police work and marital problems, lying to investigators about allegations of rape was seen as a “cure” to get him out of the house.

While under cross-examination by Gundersen’s attorney, Russell Clanton, Seal described the details of events that led up to her interview with investigators on Feb. 8, resulting in Gundersen’s arrest that day for alleged spousal rape....

UPDATED:

◼ Former Blue Lake Police Chief David Gundersen has been cleared of all major charges first filed against him in 2008. - Arcata Eye MARCH 2012

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