Blue Lake parents claim police harassment By Matt Kapko Eye Reporter The Arcata Eye March 16, 2004 A small group of parents are making serious allegations of police misconduct against the Blue Lake Police Department. They allege that certain officers actively pursue and harass their teenagers and, at times, use excessive force. At last Tuesday’s City Council meeting, four individuals took the podium and made complaints regarding a series of incidents involving their youth and the police. They allege that police are intentionally focusing on their sons and implementing tactics meant to harass and further provoke otherwise calm situations. Melissa Miller brought the most serious allegations to the council. She claims that her son was the target of police abuse and harassment. In the incident involving her son, she admits that he was “ding-dong-ditching” some houses with a group of friends, but says the police response to her son’s behavior was over the line. Miller said that her son noticed someone was pursuing him, but not knowing that it was an officer, he ran. She alleged that when Officer Chuck Basham caught up with her son, he slapped the teenager’s hat off, spun him around, shoved him on the ground, and after handcuffing him, slammed his foot in the car. Miller claimed that Officer Basham then allegedly drove her son around town, interrogated him, and joked that he could’ve shot him and left him by the river. Police Chief Dave Gunderson refuted Miller’s claims. “They knew it was the police and they lied,” he said. Other youths in the community are telling the police that Miller’s son knew it was an officer as well, Gunderson added. He admitted, “The door did get part of his foot,” but said that the youths’ allegations are “not factual.” Gunderson said the incident occurred quite differently than Miller claims, and that residents were victimized by these teenager’s actions. Ding-dong ditching “You know, ringing the doorbell and bangin’ on the side of a house of a 92-year-old lady is not right, I mean they scared the living heck out of this particular person. When you’re 92-years old you should be able to be quietly and safely tucked into your house at night and not have some kids terrorizing you,” he said. Of the Miller family, Gunderson said, “For years and years and years, their family members have caused problems within the community that has brought police attention to them. “We are a reactive department, we don’t – for the most part – go looking for problems. I think they need to look in their own household and figure out that maybe there’s a problem.” City Manager Wiley Buck said that Miller’s son “ding-dong-ditched” at least seven different houses that night. He said the officer identified himself and, during the pursuit got injured and damaged some equipment. 20-year resident Don Bedner, who was vocal at the meeting very early on, said the police are “harassing our kids. Give us a break, they’re good kids.” He pleaded with the council to look into the matter and conduct an investigation of the police department. Bedner complained about an incident involving Sergeant Darcie Seal. He alleged that she too is harassing local youth and has, on occasion, used private information regarding other local youth as a way to pit them against each other. Going through channels At one point, City Attorney Richard Platz interrupted Bedner and explained that specific incidents and allegations of misconduct have other channels of being addressed. “It is not appropriate to the council via this means,” he said. Platz directed Bedner and others with complaints to fill out the proper forms, which will then be investigated by Buck and Gunderson. Bedner said he intends to file a complaint and added that he’s already informed the District Attorney’s office and the Human Rights Commission about his concerns. The police are violating the civil rights of Blue Lake residents on a daily basis, he alleged. ‘Just amazed’ City Councilmember Marlene Smith recommended that these complaints go through the required steps to ensure the matter gets on a future agenda. “You’ve certainly gotten all of our attention. It hasn’t fallen on deaf ears,” she said. Gunderson said these parents aren’t filling out the forms because “It’s a crime to file a false complaint against a police officer.” Buck and Gunderson say that no one has made an official complaint yet. “Taking a complaint to the city council is not proper,” he said. “I’m just amazed at what I’m hearing.” Kevin Fisher also made comments to the council. He said there has been an unwarranted escalation of incidents involving Officer Basham and his children. Fisher didn’t contest that his children were at fault when the officer cited them for things such as curfew and speeding, but said his children have become a consistent target of Basham’s. “I think this officer is being far more provocative than he needs to be. And I think the police are disturbing the peace” more than keeping it, Fisher said. He told the council that the police would do a better service to the community if they would educate local youth on the issues that police have concern with, rather than targeting them and consistently citing them with fines. Fisher is specifically angry about a $142 bill that was delivered to him for his child being out past curfew. He added that $132 of the bill was for administrative costs, something that he finds outrageous. With a bill identical to Fisher’s, Ron Payton addressed the council as well. He alleged Officer Basham is constantly following his teenage son and antagonizing him as well. Gunderson maintains that these parents are knowingly lying to the council and that they should be second-guessing what their children are telling them. “This may come as a shock, but kids do lie,” he said. Home