Opinion Piece By Donna Westfall – June 5, 2015
Why aren’t the bad guys in jail?
Where we left off on Parts 1 through 4 of this story: On August 18, 2011, County resident, Dave Egan, had his door bashed in by a SWAT type operation of the Sheriffs Department, beaten unconscious, and the only item named on the warrant was never found in the raid (the BlackHawk Pistol). Yet these Sheriffs deputies and detectives confiscated every valuable thing in his home including his entire gun collection, heirloom pieces from his family, gold coins, and cash. All of this was perpetrated by former Sheriffs’ Detective Bob Barber’s claim that Dave Egan was a prior felon, a career criminal which was UNTRUE.
THE NEXT EPISODE:
The City of Paradise is 90 minutes from Sacramento, California. In 2008, a BlackHawk Pistol was reported stolen from a storage locker and reported to Paradise Police. Serial #15919. Caliber 357, Maker: Ruger. The case is inactive and according to their records department on June 4, 2015, the pistol was never recovered.
Whether or not former LA police officer, Lee Forrest, ever possessed this gun is questionable. Complaints were made to Lee Forrests’ insurance company, State Farm Lead Investigator, Jill Scott, because according to Dave Egan, Lee Forrest boasted about getting away with many scams involving items stolen from him that he never actually possessed. Why is Lee Forrest not being questioned or charged?
On Aug, ‘2011, Detective Bob Barber with the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Department obtained a warrant from an out-of-town Judge J. Michael Brown who retired in 2009. On the warrant was listed BlackHawk Pistol. That’s it. NO DRUGS were alleged.
Why would Bob Barber lie about Dave Egan being a felon and career criminal?
Because, I believe and Dave Egan believes and a whole lot of other people in this town and outside of this town believe that Barber’s intent was to steal from Egan.
Why is Barber not in jail?
On September 9, 2013, in his deposition, Bob Barber (which is public information on the Federal PACER website Case 1:12-cv-05300-NJV Document33-9 Filed 11/19/13) states he never met Lee Forrest. He spoke to the man by phone and was told that Lee Forrest said he bought the BlackHawk pistol from Dave Egan.
Even I know that’s impossible.
How is it impossible?
Because when Lee Forrest reported a stolen BlackHawk Pistol to the Curry County Sheriff’s Department, they ran a search. OOPS. The gun was reported stolen in 2008 in Paradise, California. Neither Lee Forrest nor Dave Egan were part of that report. Lee Forrest was in trouble.
Somehow the only thing that makes sense is if Lee Forrest connected with former Det. Bob Barber and told him he could use the BlackHawk Pistol scam to get at Egan’s gun collection if he eliminated any legal problems for Forrest.
How on earth did Det. Bob Barber allow ALL the sheriff’s deputies to join him in STEALING all of Dave Egan’s guns, ammunition, passport, gold coins, money and more? What’s worse, why are 52 guns still not returned to Dave Egan?
Let’s discuss stealing and theft by law enforcement. IF sheriff’s deputies know that they are doing something illegal, at any point one of them could have called a halt to it. NOT ONE DID. In my mind, that makes them all culpable.
Why are most of them still on the public payroll?
Why are they not in jail and paying restitution?
Just like adults witnessing sexual abuse of a minor and not stopping it, they are equally culpable as the perpetrator.
According to Dave Egan the following 10 Del Norte County law enforcement officers were all there stealing everything in his house not nailed down:
Bob Barber
Ed Fleshman
Steve Morris
Richard Griffin
Seth Cimino
Bill Steven
Ofc Gill
Don McManus
Richard Schneck
Carl Berry
William Fischer
Sgt. Henderson
He doesn’t know the names of any of the other officers, but does recall there were more than 10 others involved.
How on earth did Det. Bob Barber retain his job under former Sheriff Dean Wilson? Was our former Sheriff derelict in his duties? Was he an absentee Sheriff? Or was he part of a department that needed to be cleaned out like some rat infested nest?
Why is former Det. Bob Barber not being charged with crimes for stealing guns from Dave Egan? Why is Barber not facing trial?
If you’re like me and have lived in ignorance about guns, gun registration, gun ownership, how to shoot a gun or gun safety, then let me walk you through how things work in this county and how they are supposed to work in this State.
In this county, and reciting only the Dave Egan case, our Sheriff’s Department has violated numerous search and seizure protocols.
In California penal code 18255 –
(a) Upon taking custody of a firearm or other deadly weapon pursuant to this division, the officer shall give the owner or person who possessed the firearm a receipt.
Was this done?
“NO!” says Dave Egan. “They left off dozens and dozens of items.”
(b) The receipt shall describe the firearm or other deadly weapon and list any identification or serial number on the firearm.
Was this done?
“NO!” says Dave Egan.
(c) The receipt shall indicate where the firearm or other deadly weapon can be recovered, the time limit for recovery as required by this division, and the date after which the owner or possessor can recover the firearm or other deadly weapon.
Was this done?
“NO!” says Dave Egan. “The few items they did return to me were in fair to poor condition. Some, it was obvious, had been used. The Sheriff’s Department destroyed the value of my priceless collectibles and heirlooms”
Who are the bad guys?
Seems to me they are the ones being paid to serve and protect; not lie, cheat and steal. Let’s call a spade a spade. Lying, cheating and stealing is what it appears to be.
Why are they not in jail?
Because there’s not enough public pressure to correct this wrong. All of that is about to change. DEMAND that the Board of Supervisors address this wrong. Get this agendized. Start publicizing this on Facebook, Twitter and letting everyone you know let everyone they know about what’s going on in our County.
It’s too bad new Sheriff Apperson had to inherit this nightmare. This is his opportunity to try to make sure this type of conduct doesn’t continue in this county.
Finally, what about the missing video I requested under the Public Records Act from the County/DA’s office/Sheriff’s Dept?
Controller, Clinton Schaad states that since 2010, 43 body cameras have been purchased for $321.43/each by the Sheriff’s Department. Last year, acting DA, Katie Micks, said she had the Egan raid video in her possession, but had not viewed it yet. I can think of only a few reasons it has not been provided to me. None of them good. A)They destroyed the video, or B) they’re modifying the video.
Trust level at all time low.
Time to talk to the feds again, and get this broadcast in the national news to bring attention to this corrupt little town.
Why aren’t the bad guys in jail? It’s time for the good people to do something.
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