Redwood Curtain CopWatch, based in the north coast of California, is part of a larger movement of self organized CopWatch groups throughout the US. Our local efforts seek to intervene in the drastic rise of the presence, militarization, and violence of the police, and build support networks based on self-determination, caring, and concrete needs.
Downey, Michael
Undersheriff
URGENT: re Sgt. Ken Swithenbank, Deputy Stockton, and Jimmy Hartman
Submitted by copwatch on Thu, 05/17/2012 - 9:03pm5/17/2012
Open Letter to Humboldt County Sheriff, Michael Downey:
We send you this information WITH URGENCY.
Sandy Hartman of Redway has been working on getting a restraining order in Eureka (with help from a Resource Center) against her brother, Jimmy Hartman, to protect herself and her boyfriend. She is almost done with that process. Her brother has pointed and clicked guns at Sandy, and she is scared of him. Sandy, her mother, and her brother previously lived in the same house together, but her mother is being treated for leukemia in the Bay area, and her brother moved out.
On Wednesday, May 16, 2012, Sandy was in her backyard and came in to the house to check on the time. She observed two Sheriff's officers in the carport, Sgt. Ken Swithenbank and Deputy Stockton. The officers told her that her brother (against whom she has been seeking a restraining order) was inside the house “looking for his guns.”
Latest Attempt to Get Compliance from Humboldt Sheriff's With Public Records Act
Nov.3, 2010
This letter pertains to my June 2008 California Public Records Request, and follows my last correspondence of August 2008 regarding said Request. (I have included a courtesy copy of the August 2008 letter which was both hand delivered and delivered via certified U.S. Mail to your office.)
The Humboldt County Sheriff's Department [HCSD] has failed to comply with the California Public Records Act with regards to the June 2008 Request. Not only has the HCSD refused to provide most of the materials requested that are in its possession, but it also has 1) failed to assist me in identifying records and information that are responsive to the request or to the purpose of the request, as stated; 2) provided no descriptions as to the information technology and physical location in which the records exist, and; 3) made no effort to provide suggestions for overcoming any practical basis for denying access to the records or information sought.
Humboldt County Sheriff's Department Refuses to Comply with California Public Records Request
BACKGROUND
KMUD news, May 12, 2008: http://www.box.net/shared/iz6j5tdy3x begin at 6 min, 21 sec
May 24, 2008: Recent County Raids on Houseless People Spawns Forming of Community Group from North and South Humboldt
3) Humboldt Sheriff's Ken Swithenbank Retaliates Against Member of Public for Making Records Request
Sheriff Gary Philp
Undersheriff Mike Downey
Humboldt County Sheriffs Department
Records Supervisor
Records Section Division
826 Fourth Street
Eureka, CA 95501
Via facsimile and certified US. mail
Re: Retaliatory Intimidation in response to request to inspect records pursuant to California Public Records Act, Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 6250 et. seq.
Dear Sirs/Madams:
On June 23, 2008, my request Pursuant to California Public Records Act, Cal Gov’t Code §§ 6250 et. seq. (dated June 16, 2008) was sent via certified mail and also hand delivered to your office(s).
