In the wake of robberies

◼ (Cloney's) Pharmacy declares stocking OxyContin® not worth the risk
A Eureka pharmacy robbed twice in a week for the powerful narcotic OxyContin® won't be carrying the drug anymore.

Cloney's Prescription Pharmacy on Harrison Avenue, and its sister business Cloney's Red Cross Pharmacy on Fifth Street, has decided it's not worth the risk to employees to carry the highly addictive pain killer.

”We're not willing to risk our lives over this drug,” said Rich Spini, a partner in the pharmacy.

The Harrison Avenue store was robbed on April 19 and April 26. In both cases, a white man in his 20s brandished a handgun and demanded employees hand over OxyContin® tablets. It's not known if the same man committed the robberies....

TS Election Roundup:

◼ Sierra Club endorses Neely, Hagen in Humboldt County races
...In endorsing Hagen, the group praised his eight years of work as the circuit environmental prosecutor for Humboldt, Del Norte and Lake counties. In making its endorsement of Neely, the group praised her experience, and her work on the General Plan Update...

◼ North Coast Appraisers endorse Brooks for Humboldt County assessor

LWV/CLMP DA Candidate Forum in Garberville is being broadcast live in KMUD

◼ kmud.org

It's a tough game

◼ Bryson out of DA race
Humboldt County District Attorney candidate Kathleen Bryson is dropping out of the race.
Bryson made the announcement today, saying the campaign was “taking too much time away from my family and legal practice.” She said the time away was affecting her elementary school-aged daughter and said that a serious car accident involving her older daughter was part of what made her change course.

Sorry to hear this.

◼ Bryson drops out of DA’s race - heraldo
◼ Kathleen Bryson Out? - The Journal Blogthing
◼ Bryson Drops Out - The Reporta

After much thought and discussion with my family, I have made the decision to drop out of the campaign for Humboldt County District Attorney.

While I am grateful for the opportunity, the campaign was taking too much time away from my family and legal practice. I am only 44 years old, the youngest of the da candidates, and our children are school-age. In particular, our youngest daughter is in elementary school, and my many hours away from home were taking too much of a toll on her. In addition, recently, our eldest daughter suffered a very serious car accident that has put matters into perspective for our entire family.

I want to thank all the people who contributed their time, money and moral support to my campaign. I also want to thank the other candidates for their open dialogue in relation to the issues. The experience of running for public office has given me profound respect for those who sacrifice their time and privacy to be our public officials.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Bryson.

◼ Humboldt County DA candidate Bryson pulls out

Garberville hotel shooting

◼ link
At about 1 a.m., a man renting a room at the Garberville Motel on Redwood Drive reported that two men were outside his door yelling at him, according to a Humboldt County Sheriff's Office press release. When he looked through the peephole of the door, he saw one of the men was armed with a rifle.

The man in the hotel room moved into the bathroom and called 911. While he was on the phone with dispatchers, one of the suspects allegedly fired six or seven shots into the door, according to the press release.

A responding deputy spotted two men walking away from the motel, and recognized one of the subjects from the caller's description. Chris David Collins, 58, and Christopher William Dalzin, 22, both of Garberville, were arrested at the scene. The deputy also located a loaded rifle on the ground near the men, according to the press release....

Collins and Dalzin were booked into the Humboldt County jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, and shooting at an inhabited dwelling, according to the Sheriff's Office. Collins was also booked on suspicion of a probation violation and is ineligible to post bail due to his probation status. Dalzin's bail was set at $100,000.

Should be interesting.

Crime wave continues

◼ Cloney's target of second narcotic robbery in Eureka
Cloney's Pharmacy in Eureka was robbed at gunpoint Monday morning for the second time in a week and it remains unclear if the incidents are related...

The suspect entered the Harrison Avenue store at about 9:30 a.m. brandishing a black handgun. He demanded OxyContin from an employee, and fled after receiving it...

This is the 10th armed robbery in the Eureka area since March 25.

There are now armed guards outside some of the banks in Eureka.

◼ $2000- Reward offered for Eureka pharmacy bandit

”It's going to be something Paul's going to have to think about.”

◼ Bradshaw autopsy report with Humboldt County DA; indicates blunt force trauma as cause of death
Prosecutors have received an autopsy report on the death of Monica Bradshaw, and will be reviewing it in the coming days to determine whether to pursue a murder charge against her husband.

The report lists blunt force injuries as the cause of Bradshaw's death, but suggests she may have also suffered other injuries that could contradict her husband's story....

Her husband was arrested June 12 after a lengthy investigation and charged with her murder. In December, Robin Bradshaw entered into a plea agreement, pleading guilty to a count of voluntary manslaughter upon a sudden quarrel or in the heat of passion; and one count of making a false insurance claim.

As a condition of the plea, Robin Bradshaw led investigators to where he had buried his wife some 18 months earlier. The plea is also contingent on forensic pathologist Dr. Mark Super's examination finding forensic evidence that corroborates his version of events -- that he struck Monica Bradshaw over the head and shoulders two or three times with a metal bar, but only after his wife first assaulted him with the weapon.

Humboldt County District Attorney's Office Chief Investigator Mike Hislop said Monday that his office has received the long-awaited report from the Jan. 24 autopsy, and that District
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Attorney Paul Gallegos will review the report to determine whether to leave the plea agreement in place or pursue the initial murder charge....

Gallegos was not immediately available for comment Monday, but Hislop said he would be giving Gallegos the report Monday for review and, ultimately, a charging decision.

”It's going to be something Paul's going to have to think about,” Hislop said.

Robin Bradshaw remains held in the Humboldt County jail on $1 million bail and is awaiting a May 4 sentencing hearing if his plea agreement remains in place.

Might be the most politically motivated decision yet.

***

PREVIOUSLY:
◼ DA's office (Paul Gallegos) still undecided in Bradshaw case; Gallegos to talk to pathologist next week May 28, 2010
◼ Bradshaw sentencing postponed, Gallegos "weighing" decision May 5, 2010
...Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos received Super's report last week, but has yet to decide how to proceed with the case. At Tuesday's hearing, Bradshaw's attorney, Peter Martin, said Gallegos had contacted him asking that the sentencing hearing be postponed.

”He wants more time, I believe, to review the medical report and to request supporting materials from the medical examiner,” Martin said....
◼ ”It's going to be something Paul's going to have to think about.” April 27, 2010
-- Bradshaw autopsy report with Humboldt County DA; indicates blunt force trauma as cause of death
◼ Autopsy report coming in Bradshaw case; plea agreement hinges on results for McKinleyville man accused of wife's murder APRIL 24, 2010
◼ Bradshaw positively identified; full autopsy report pending more test results FEBRUARY 01, 2010
◼ Autopsy set for Sunday in Bradshaw case JANUARY 23, 2010
◼ ANOTHER PLEA DEAL - Bradshaw agreed to give location of body in plea deal JANUARY 09, 2010
Robin Stuart Bradshaw entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors last month, agreeing to disclose the location of his wife's body and plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter, court records show.
◼ Authorities believe they have found the body of missing McKinleyville woman JANUARY 08, 2010
The person further told investigators, according to the affidavit, that Robin Bradshaw confessed to first burying his wife in a shallow grave in the backyard of his home, only to later dig her body up and bury it on an undeveloped Danco subdivision off of Fieldbrook Road in McKinleyville.
◼ Hearing for McKinleyville murder case continued NOVEMBER 05, 2009
◼ Bradshaw Prelim continued to Nov. 5 SEPTEMBER 30, 2009
◼ Prelim for Robin Stuart Bradshaw JULY 07, 2009
◼ Bradshaw pleads not guilty to murdering wife June 16, 2009
◼ Robin Stuart Bradshaw, arrested JUNE 16, 2009
◼ Second search warrant issued in missing woman case - and a request to seal documents January 29, 2009
◼ Monica Bradshaw: MISSING January 27, 2009

The Bradshaw case

◼ Autopsy report coming in Bradshaw case; plea agreement hinges on results for McKinleyville man accused of wife's murder
While Robin Bradshaw faces a 12-year prison sentence under the deal, it is contingent on Super's examination finding forensic evidence that corroborates his version of events -- that he struck Monica Bradshaw in the head and shoulders two or three times with a metal bar only after his wife assaulted him with the weapon first.

”This is a conditional plea,” said Robin Bradshaw's attorney, Peter Martin, according to a Dec. 17 transcript. “The condition is as follows: Mr. Bradshaw will lead police to Ms. Bradshaw's remains. A forensic examination will be performed on the remains. If forensic evidence establishes that Mrs. Bradshaw did not die in the manner described ... it will be considered a breach of the plea bargain, and the people may petition the court to vacate the plea agreement.”

Parris said in a previous interview that Super was keenly aware of the role his report would play in the case, and was intent on conducting a very thorough examination. To that end, Parris said, Super requested numerous X-rays of the remains, DNA testing, toxicology analyses and other tests to be performed on Monica Bradshaw's body before completing his report. Parris said he is confident

A decrease in child abuse cases?

◼ Humboldt County sees decrease in child abuse cases; prevention advocates credit community partnerships

Boy, I'll say.

...Sutcliffe said the agency has seen a 25 percent decrease in reports that were serious enough to result in investigations and a 40 decrease in investigations that led to cases between 2006 and 2009....

Let's see the new numbers. Here are the old ones:

In 1997
There were 137 CAST Child Interviews
There were 56 cases of alleged child abuse RECEIVED by the DAs office
There were 37 child abuse cases FILED by the DAs office

In 1998
There were 142 CAST Interviews
There were 52 cases received by the DAs office
There were 37 cases FILED by the DAs office

In 1999
There were 194 CAST Interviews
There were 81 cases received by the DAs office
There were 49 cases FILED by the DAs office

In 2000
There were 194 CAST Interviews
There were 66 cases received by the DAs office
There were 48 cases FILED by the DAs office

In 2001
There were 196 CAST Interviews
There were 65 cases received by the DAs office
There were 46 cases FILED by the DAs office

In 2002
There were 215 CAST Interviews
There were 66 cases received by the DAs office
There were 47 cases FILED by the DAs office

In January of 2003, Paul Gallegos took office

In 2003
There were 205 CAST Interviews
There were 67 cases received by the DAs office
There were 40 cases FILED by the DAs office

In June of 2004 Paul Gallegos fired his top child abuse prosecutor.

In 2004
There were 146 CAST Interviews
There were 50 cases received by the DAs office
There were 23 cases FILED by the DAs office

In 2005
There were 155 CAST Interviews
There were 35 cases received by the DAs office
There were 17 cases FILED by the DAs office

In the first four months of 2006
There were 40 CAST Interviews (on track for 120 interviews)
There were 4 cases received by the DAs office (on track for 12 cases received)
There was 1 case FILED by the DAs office.

ONE.

ONE child abuse case filed. January to April of that year.

And now - a report of "a 40 decrease in investigations that led to cases between 2006 and 2009."

A 40% decrease.

40%

◼ "A matter of priorities"
RELATED STORIES:
ER - Former deputy DA speaks out
ER - Candidates spar over child abuse team
ER - DA's Office yet to respond to request for child abuse records
ER - CAST established with child victims in mind
ER - CAST needs support Gallegos is not providing
(Note that Eureka Reporter stories are no longer available online, and you should be able to find them at your County Library in hardcopy. A few are saved here):
Former deputy DA speaks out
Candidates spar over child abuse team
DA's Office yet to respond to request for child abuse records

There is no question that the hardworking people at The Humboldt County Domestic Violence Prevention Coordinating Council, the Child Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council of Humboldt County, the Teen Center and the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services' Child Welfare Services, Humboldt County Chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse, and CAST (not mentioned in this story but honored earlier this week by the Board of Supervisors) do good work. But there are serious questions to be asked here.

Journal election coverage

◼ Notes from the Hustings April 22
Dem Votes, Dem Votes

Last Wednesday evening, the Humboldt Democratic Central Committee held an unorthodox meeting flooded with curious onlookers and eager candidates seeking endorsements in the June 8 primary election. Fourth District Supervisor incumbent Bonnie Neely got the nod, but the committee failed to reach the two-thirds threshold required to officially support candidates in the key contests for Fourth District Supervisor and district attorney.

"We're a victim of our own success," joked HCDCC Chair Milt Boyd, referencing the unusually large number of Democratic candidates vying for endorsements. All four DA contenders were present, as were the three aspirants for Fourth District Supervisor, two of whom -- Neely and Eureka Mayor Virginia Bass -- used to be Republicans, mirroring the shift in the county as a whole.

At stake was the county Dems' seal of approval for two supervisor seats, district attorney, assessor and auditor-controller. The latter was an easy one (Joe Millett, the lone candidate, earned their blessing), but each other contest saw candidates saunter to a podium where they attempted to outsell their opponents to the panel of 25 committee members. It wasn't a cold-sell; candidates had previously submitted written responses to committee questionnaires, and clearly some HCDCC members had already made up their minds. (Charlene Cutler-Ploss, for example, sported an "Allison Jackson for DA" button.)

With 25 voting members present, the magic number for endorsement was 17. After listening to each candidate's four-minute presentation -- followed in most cases by two minutes of Q and A -- the committee dismissed the candidates, then reconvened to cast their votes. (This without debate, to the disappointment of several in attendance including a noticeably annoyed Shane Brinton, Arcata City Councilman and staunch Paul Hagen supporter.)

With 18 yea votes, Neely earned endorsement on the first tally of the evening, besting Eureka City Councilman Jeff Leonard and Eureka Mayor Virginia Bass, who faced skepticism about her recent party switch.

The district attorney contest, which featured a crowded field of four Democrats, suggested a heated battle yet to come. Incumbent Paul Gallegos failed to earn the committee's blessing, garnering just 10 yea votes to 11 nays and four abstentions. Hagen also fell short with four yeas. Allison Jackson made a strong showing with eight yeas and 13 nays, while Kathleen Bryson failed even to earn a motion for consideration.

The Fifth District match also ended in a draw with both Pat Higgins (12 yeas, nine nays) and Patrick Cleary (11 yeas, 11 nays) falling short. Assessor hopeful John Brooks bested incumbent Mari Wilson by barely reaching the 17-vote threshold.

Offstage, Republican challengers wait in the wings. In some of the races, anyway. -- Ryan Burns
see also: Charge of the Underdog and It's So Simple in that same piece.
◼ Notes from the Hustings April 15
Two pieces: Follow the Money (on campaign finance reform), and Sundberg and Spaghetti (Ryan Sundberg is running for Fifth District Supervisor)
◼ Notes from the Hustings April 8
Consult This!, and Arts Gallegos
◼ Suddenly Sexy Assessor!

easy pickin's

◼ Eureka armed robbery suspect Ezra Williams in custody
Ezra “Easy” Williams, named as a suspect in more than a half dozen armed robberies in the Eureka area, is in custody after being arrested Wednesday night in the San Diego area.

The good news is he is in custody, and he didn't get himself shot, and he didn't take any others with him.

Now the question of course is - how long til he is back out on the street?

So, is he behind all these robberies, or are there a bunch of copycats?
◼ Eureka robbery rash worsens; gas station holdup is No. 9 since March 25
An early morning armed robbery of a Broadway gas station in Eureka on Tuesday makes it nine holdups of city businesses in less than a month.

At 12:48 a.m., Eureka police were dispatched to the Patriot gas station on the 1700 block of Broadway, where the store owner and his teenage son reported having been robbed. They told police that a man armed with a handgun and another armed with a knife entered the station and demanded money, while a third man stood guard outside.

The three men fled east on West Wabash. The first is described as a male, possibly Asian between 5 feet, 6 inches and 5 feet, 8 inches tall, skinny, wearing a white hooded sweatshirt with a black mask covering his face. The second is 5 feet, 6 inches to 5 feet, 8 inches tall, medium build, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with a black mask. The third was only seen from the back, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, and of a similar height and build.

The robbery follows one on Monday afternoon, during which a man demanded OxyContin tablets from an employee of Cloney's pharmacy on Harrison. Seven other armed robberies since March 25 are believed to have been committed by 26-year-old Ezra Williams.

Eureka Detective Ron Harpham said the investigation into that string of robberies is ongoing, and that there is no new information to release.

◼ Eureka armed robbery suspect nabbed at Mexico border; Ezra Williams in custody after reportedly attempting to re-enter U.S.
EPD Detective Ron Harpham said he has been in periodic phone contact with Williams since April 15, and believes the suspect was already in Mexico at that time. He said he thinks Williams was returning to the U.S. on Wednesday to surrender to law enforcement in Humboldt County.
”He knew he had to turn himself in,” Harpham said.

...If Harpham is correct that Williams left town on April 8, it seems the last robbery he could have committed in the area was at Sal's Off Broadway bar in the early morning hours of April 8.
Williams had been considered armed and dangerous, and there was some question if he would surrender peacefully if tracked down by law enforcement. According to EPD, Williams had stated to an acquaintance that he would not go to jail and would “go out gangster style,” although others reportedly told police Williams wanted to get caught. Police said they believed Williams may have been using methamphetamine and heroin, which may have accounted for the differing statements.

According to Humboldt County court records, Williams has a trio of convictions on his rap sheet, all for petty theft, with two occurring in 2005 and another in 2008. He was also arrested March 17 on suspicion of possessing heroin for sale and transportation of heroin for sale. He posted bail after the arrest, and Humboldt County Assistant District Attorney Wes Keat said earlier this month that his office was seeking an arrest warrant on charges stemming from that incident.
________________
Robberies investigated in connection with Ezra Williams:
March 25: Radio Shack on Myrtle Avenue at 9:30 a.m. (Williams booked on this case)
March 27: Texaco gas station on Broadway in the early-morning hours
March 31: Performance Fuels on Broadway at 1:40 a.m.
April 6: Madsen Realty on Christie Street at 10:49 a.m.
April 6: Bank of America on F Street at 2:11 p.m. (Williams booked on this case)
April 8: Sal's Off Broadway bar on Albee Street at 2:30 a.m.
April 12: Safeway on Harris Street and Harrison Avenue at 10:45 p.m.
Editor's note: Williams was booked in two cases noted above, the Radio Shack and the Bank of America robberies. The rest remain under investigation.

Podcast, Eric and Hank

◼ Eric Kirk and ◼ Hank Sims ◼ on KMUD talking local politics.

The ACLU DA Forum

◼ YOUTUBE videos and original post at http://www.johncosborn.com/?p=1141 John thanks Mason Long (thanks again), for recording the debate.
broken into segments due to YouTube limitations:

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The ACLU site: ◼ http://redwoodaclu.blogspot.com/
◼ Allison Jackson
---on Facebook
◼ Paul Hagen
---on Facebook
◼ Kathleen Bryson
---on Facebook
◼ Paul Gallegos
---on Facebook

The HCDCC Endorsement Process

◼ HCDCC Make Endorsements, Vid of Presentations - John Osborn/The Reporta - who notes Special thanks to Mason Long, who recorded everything









Osborn's link includes candidates for Assessor and 4th District and 5th Supervisors as well.

Election Roundup: Humboldt ACLU hosts district attorney candidate debate

◼ link

The Redwood Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union will have a debate on civil liberties for the four ballot-qualified candidates for Humboldt County district attorney today from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the senior room of the Arcata Community Center, 321 Community Park Way.

This debate will be held before a live audience, up to the room's 100-person capacity. It will also be aired live on public access Channel 12 and will likewise be available for later viewing online.