Recently, many of us heard about the bullying done to a resident of Quartzsite, Arizona, by the Chief of Police, Jeff Gilbert. This story had me quite riled up that I had to voice my concerns to Sheriff Don Lowrey of La Pa County, La Paz County Attorney Sam Vederman, and Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne.
My July 16th letter to them is as follows.
Attorney Sam Vederman
1320 Kofa Ave
Parker, AZ 85344
Sheriff Don Lowery
1109 Arizona Ave
Parker, AZ 85344
Tom Horne
Attorney General of Arizona
1275 W Washington St
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2926
Sirs:
I am writing as a private citizen of the United States concerning the recent behavior and conduct by the Quartzsite Chief of Police, Jeff Gilbert. It has come to light on Facebook, Fox News and other media outlets as of late.
A resident of Quartzsite, Jennifer Jones, was initially allowed to speak during a Call to the Public segment of the Quartzsite city council meeting on June 28th. She was given the floor to freely speak about corruption occurring within the City of Quartzsite. As per the video on YouTube, Chief Gilbert, unconstitutionally had Ms. Jones arrested for no reason other than speaking out against the perceived corruption. I believe that her Constitutional rights as per the First Amendment were blatantly and grossly violated because Mr. Gilbert and associates did not like the message she had.
A few days later, Chief Gilbert has attempted to declare martial law in Quartzsite, while attempting to have Mayor Ed Foster removed from power. This apparently stemmed from the events of a July 11th city council meeting. This meeting was deemed illegal because of the events occurring during the June 28th city council meeting. A later video shows the Mayor declaring the meeting null and void and walked out of the meeting. However, the city council continued with the meeting, even after the Mayor walked out of it.
Thus, I urge you to initiate an immediate investigation into the actions of Chief of Police Gilbert and others in the grave violation of Ms. Jones’ civil liberties as pertaining to Article 2, Section 6 of the Constitution of the State of Arizona, and to the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Sincerely,
Derek J Witt
I honestly didn’t think I was going to get a response from any of the aforementioned persons. Surprisingly on July 19th, I received the following response from the Attorney General’s Office of Constituent Services.
Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting the Arizona Attorney General’s Office regarding your concerns.
Our office has opened an investigation into the allegations of open meeting law violations. This investigation is being conducted through the Office of the Solicitor General, Open Meeting Law Enforcement Team.
Regarding allegations of misconduct on the part of law enforcement officials, this office does not have jurisdiction over local law enforcement and therefore does not have the authority to conduct such investigations. The appropriate agencies to report police officer misconduct would be the United States Dept. of Justice or the FBI.
In regards to criminal activity and public corruption, if someone has evidence of criminal wrongdoing they should submit their complaint / information in writing to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office to the attention of the Special Investigations Section at 1275 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007.
Please note, our Office acts as legal counsel for State Agencies in Arizona and, therefore, cannot act as a private attorney to individual citizens. This means we cannot give legal advice, opinions or interpretation of law to individuals.
Thank you again for contacting our offices.
Warm Regards,
Office of Constituent Services
Arizona Attorney General’s Office
Apparently, numerous complaints were made to the Arizona Solicitor General’s Open Meeting Enforcement Team (OMET) about the illegal conduct of the city council and the Chief of Police. Even Mayor Ed Foster submitted a complaint to the OMET.
As per the response that Mayor Foster received, OMET consolidated the open meeting violation complaints, and opened an investigation into allegations of Open Meeting Law violations by Chief of Police Jeff Gilberts and others. As many can see on this Youtube video, Jennifer Jones was illegally arrested during an apparently obvious violation of said Open Meeting Laws.
And apparently, other Youtube Videos are surfacing. These demonstrate further gross violation of Arizona State Law, and of the Constitution of the State of Arizona and of the United States. We, as private citizens, must continue to put the spurs upon the likes of Chief of Police Gilbert, and of members of the Quartzsite City Council. The declaration of martial law solely because being called out on perceived corruption cannot stand!
I pray that the State of Arizona stands up for its own citizens and protects them against gross constitutional violations as done by those members of the Quartzsite City Council and Chief of Police Gilbert.
Good morning, everyone.
I’m going to be blunt and up-front. I am unable to be objective about talking about the murder of Alicia Debolt. This has hit me personally, as well as the people of Great Bend. I grew up and went to school in Great Bend.
Great Bend is a farming town of about 15,000 people in central Kansas. It has about 3 or so cattle feedlots near by. It has about 3 grain elevators. One of the elevators is actually a block from downtown, seemingly out of place. A Missouri Pacific branch line used to run from Hoisington (8 miles north of town) to GB and fed that grain elevator.
It’s said that everyone knew everyone. It’s not quite like that, but we are very protective of one another. However, neither I, few of my neighbors, nor my aunt and uncle who still live in Great Bend know much of the suspect. Adam Longoria, who was arrested earlier this week, within the past month moved into a house at the corner of 8th and Baker. This house is only two houses from my own childhood house in Great Bend! Also, these houses are two blocks away from Riley Elementary School (a K-6 public school). I attended Riley Elementary as well as Great Bend High School, the same school that DeBolt attended her first year prior to her vicious killing.
I have seen the various forum postings, particularly on Fox News. Many of these posters apparently seem to think they know a lot about the DeBolt family and about this case. They are claiming that her parents are guilty of allowing her to go with an older man to a party. These posters do not know what in the world they are blabbering about! We all know what happens when one assumes, folks! These same people have never stepped first in rural Kansas, never mind Great Bend. We have to remember this from the Holy Bible, “Ye who is without sin cast the first stone.” Before people start running their mouths, they better have the facts first!
This also applies to Nancy Grace. She had a piece about this murder earlier this week. She was interviewing the Editor of the Great Bend Tribune. She has absolutely no right to accuse the Great Bend Police Department nor the Kansas Bureau of Investigation for taking two days to identify Alicia’s severely charred body. She fails to realize that Great Bend is a small rural town. It is NOT a metropolitan area city like Wichita or Kansas City. Great Bend does not have the resources needed to make the proper identification. Thus why her body had to be brought to a facility in Wichita, 120 miles away.
My aunt, who does advertisements for the Great Bend Tribune, flat out calls Nancy Grace an unethical “journalist” (with quotes around journalist) and a vulture. My aunt is right.
Grace is indeed a vulture. She is not a journalist. She does not care about the town that is deeply affected, nor about the law enforcement. Both the GBPD and the KBI is to be commended for their swift action in apprehending the suspect in this case.
One of my friends back in Great Bend told me yesterday he heard that Mr. Longoria and 4 others gang-raped Alicia, and threw her into an asphalt incinerator alive. If they are found guilty, they ought receive the same treatment that they did when they killed her! But, realistically, I pray that Kansas’ Jessica Law is applied to Longoria et al to its fullest extent.
Attorney-General Stephen Six has said that his regional office will be fully prosecuting this case. It’s rare that I support Six on anything. I’m pretty much opposed to his actions as of late, but I commend him for his swift involvement in Alicia DeBolt’s case. Six has spent no wasted time for his part in swiftly searching for her killer and apprehending Longoria.
– Derek W.
Representative Todd Tiahrt, 4th Congressional District of Kansas, has recently received the endorsement of “The Architect” Karl Rove, and the Tea Party Express. This past week, he has received the endorsement of former Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin!
Todd has been defending Kansas more than ever. Instead of shooting a campaign video, he was on the House floor this past spring debating the irrational and unconstitutional health care legislation being bullied through both chambers. He fought the Obama administration when terrorists were attempted to be transferred to the military disciplinary barracks at Fort Leavenworth (which is a 20 mile drive from my residence).
He publicly opposed the nomination of then-Governor Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Mrs. Sebelius has driven the State of Kansas down the gutter in more way than one. She signed a bill in 2003 allowing illegal aliens to pay in-state college tuition in direct violation of Title 8 of the United States Code.
He was the senatorial candidate present at the Kansas City Tea Party, sponsored by PoliticalChips.org. I admit I was shy when I saw him being interviewed by Darla Jaye, of NewsRadio 980 KMBZ, at the Tea Party. He even was talking with people in the concourse at Community America Ballpark.
When I called his office on the day of the infamous health care vote, his staff was still there answering the lines. They still allowed me to voice my concerns, even though I was not his constituent (I’m in the Kansas 3rd).
If you reside in Kansas, I ask that you vote for a true patriot, like Todd Tiahrt for United States Senate on 3 August 2010. If you are not in Kansas, I still urge you to vote for true Conservatives in your state. Because, we will light up the Second of November like the Fourth of July!
