Spokane7
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October 8, 2010 in City
Jury convicts Elton of 2 misdemeanors
David Elton
(Full-size photo)
A jury today convicted a Spokane man of two counts of misdemeanor harassment against City Council President Joe Shogan and Betsy Cowles, chairwoman of the company that owns The Spokesman-Review.
The jury of eight men and four women ruled that while David H. Elton, 44, harassed Shogan and Cowles, his actions did not make the two legitimately fear for the lives and thus was not a felony. Deputy Prosecutor Dale Nagy, who had asked for a conviction of felony harassment-threats to kill, said jurors did their jobs.
“That’s what the system’s all about,” he said.
Elton’s lawyer, Mark Hodgson, said he doesn’t feel Elton’s conduct rose to the level of harassment against Shogan, who was not listed in an e-mail Elton sent to acquaintances in February 2009 listing seven people he wanted to kill. Cowles was included in the list. Elton, a former Spokane County commission candidate, didn’t send the e-mail to either victim; they learned of them through concerned citizens.
“I think it was probably a just verdict,” Hodgson said. He said he was particularly pleased jurors ruled neither Shogan nor Cowles had reason to fear for their lives.
“That’s always been our position, that there was never a true threat to kill,” Hodgson said.
Elton was arrested in February 2009 after sending an e-mail in which he wrote, “That is the crux of the problem, I want to murder the following people,” and listed seven names, including Cowles and her brother, Spokesman-Review Publisher Stacey Cowles. Elton also wrote that he was proficient in the use of high-powered rifles and knew his intended victims’ schedules well.
Elton has said the e-mail, which began “Comedy below,” was a joke.
Elton had sent another e-mail in December 2008 in which he mentioned Shogan and said he would “enjoy the decapitation of Joey boy.”
Spokesman-Review blog contributor John Olsen called Elton after receiving the February e-mail and asked him to promise to call if he felt he was going to harm himself or any of the seven people. Elton told Olsen he couldn’t promise not to harm Shogan or Betsy Cowles. Olsen called Shogan, who called police.
The administrator of the Spokesman-Review’s Community Comment blog, Dave Laird, also received the e-mail and notified newspaper management.
Cowles and Shogan testified Tuesday, saying they feared for their lives and changed their daily routines after reading the e-mails. Shogan said he still carries a restraining order against Elton in his wallet.
Jurors deliberated for more than day before reaching the verdict about noon today.
Elton faces up to a year in jail when he’s sentenced Oct. 27. He’s already served 16 days.
He also faces a second trial for alleged threats made to his ex-wife, Robin Stewart.
Elton asked Judge Maryann Moreno if he could start attending city council meetings again, but Nagy said he’s still prohibited from contacting Shogan.
Human trafficking suspects released 
Ron_the_Cop on October 08 at 5:13 p.m.
Well it’s seems the jury used some common sense in reaching its verdict. In no way I’m I justifying Elton’s behavior but this case knowing Elton appears to have been over charged. This jury’s finding was an appropriate finding based on the facts and evidence.
See my comments in the other thread. Here’s the last one in the other thread:
Meghann,
You’re missing the real story in the Elton case. In my opinion the Elton case struck a nerve re this much deeper issue I discuss below. In my opinion re the handling of the Savage Case by Steve Tucker there may be substantial conflicts of interests re this prosecutor’s office filing/bringing this case esp with the approaching contested election.
Is Tucker again playing for favors here for an endorsement in the general election? There is an legitimate issue of potential “high charging” in view of the facts/evidence you have reported. Tucker should have recused his office and let another county handle this case. Look most of the local bench recused itself too. This should tell you something.
As I replied to Spoketucky:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/oct/03/officers-case-far-from-over/?comments#c202319
While Dave Elton may have crossed the line in his civic protests and bi-polar rants re City government and the Cowleses, he did unfortunately strike a nerve and the establishment is responding with a flurry. Look I in no way wish to justify his behavior. Was he likely to carry out his threats? That’s the $64 question. A jury will soon decide his fate. Was this a case of “over-charging” in deference to Spokane’s power elite responding to a mentally challenged critic that may have struck a chord that does ring true? I’ll let you decide.
Will you report?
Ron Wright
[For context see this post and read the entire discussion thread]
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/oct/03/officers-case-far-from-over/?comments#c202319
cpd805 on October 08 at 5:34 p.m.
Ron, I also think this was a reasonable verdict. That being said, in Washington State, the liklihood of the defendant carrying out the threat is not an element of felony harassment. The issue is whether the defendant’s “words or conduct places the person threatened in reasonable fear that the threat will be carried out”.
Also there is specific Wa State case law that has ruled: 1. the actual intent of the defendant and the liklihood of the threat being carried out is irrelevant as long as the victim is placed in reasonable fear. 2. Whether or not the threat was sent directly to the victim or passed on by a third party is irrelevant, as long as the victim is placed in reasonable fear.
The real question here is: Were the victim’s placed in reasonable fear in this case? I think the jury answered that question.
Cougzz on October 08 at 7:43 p.m.
Elton claimed that a reason for his unreasonable behavior is that he was not taking his medications. Maybe something should be done to see that he becomes compliant with his pharmaceutical schedule.
Ron_the_Cop on October 08 at 8:19 p.m.
CPD805,
Agreed. The jury’s verdict was fair. CA has a similar section 422 PC making terrorist threats. It too is dependent on on the state of mind of the victim:
The threatening statement caused the other person reasonably to be in sustained fear for his or her own safety or his or her immediate family’s safety.
saveyourtatas on October 08 at 9:39 p.m.
I was reading something by warrenpeace on another blog. I am wondering why nobody else that received the email was contacted?
Were any of you in the courtroom for Shogan’s testimony?
I saw his testimony and I didn’t feel he was really scared or threatened by Mr Elton. However his claiming he is scared has kept Mr Elton out of city council meetings for the past 1 1/2 years. That has to make Mr Shogan happy, one less citizen to deal with.
Why if Mr Shogan was so afraid of Mr Elton did he not have him thrown out of the city council meeting on Feb 9th? This meeting was held after Shogan claimed he was looking at Rooftops for Mr Elton, after the Feb 6 email that he wasn’t even named in. If he was so afraid why did he not have him escorted out? If he was so afraid for his life, why didn’t he press charges against Mr Elton back in December when he claimed to have really been in fear? I went back to look at city council meetings between Dec & Feb 9th…Mr Shogan doesn’t look scared of Mr Elton at any of those meetings. Do you think maybe it was convienient that this all dropped in his lap? It was the perfect opportunity for Shogan to quiet a outspoken political man.
Mr Shogan wasn’t even mentioned in the email that caused all this, how did Shogans name enter into this? Oh yes, the good Dr…ChefGus on blogs. He brought up Shogan to Mr Elton and Mr Elton said “Oh I left him off the list?” By his own admission Olsen said he asked Mr Elton “What about Shogan?” Why would Olsen bring up Shogan? Was it to stir up trouble, maybe he could call in a favor for Shogan. Why didn’t he call anyone else on the “list” If he was truely worried for people why only call Shogan? Cuz that’s the only Phone number he had? He didn’t have the phone number for The Spokesman Review to call the Cowles? He didn’t have anyway to find the number for McNeil Island to warn Kevin Coe? Ever hear of Google Mr Olsen? Sounds silly doesn’t it? It does to me.
II bet it was tough for Shogan to admit, in public, that he was afraid of Mr Elton. When he was testifying he kept looking down and was scowling. Let’s be realistic here. Mr Shogan wrote an email that went to City Employees claiming how he has been through many fearful situations…shot at, stepped on an IED that didn’t explode, shot at by missles while in a helicopter…but no mention of Mr Elton, sounds like he was really in fear for his life. POPPYCOCK, Mr Shogan…shame on you!! All this just to keep an outspoken man out of city council meetings.
Just a thought…
Pat O'Leary on October 08 at 9:50 p.m.
Outspoken? Elton is a looney tunes buffoon…that is why Shogan tried to control his behavior at Council meetings.
eagleproducer on October 08 at 9:51 p.m.
tatas: I smelled a rat as well. Ron The Cop told me not to worry.
saveyourtatas on October 09 at 1:05 a.m.
Dear Pat OLeary, if Elton is such a “looney tunes buffoon”, why would he be asked to serve as a consultant to County Commissioner Mark Richard, as well as for Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich? (Elton was one of three local experts asked to give advice to a group of 12 strategists. The other two were Tobey Hatley(Q6) and former city councilman Mike Allen). That happened just 2 months ago. That does not sound like a buffoon to me. Elton provided expert witness testimony on a historic death penalty case in Oregon (Oregon-V-Harberts). After Elton’s expertise was used, Scott Dean “Harberts” was released from jail, after eight years on death row. Does that sound like a buffoon? On the first day of the trial(Tuesday), Bill Gates Senior was in town and a local democratic Think-Tank owner asked for help from Elton with speechwriting. Did you catch that? A democratic Think-Tank owner (Elton is GOP) asked David Elton to help him write his speech and his introduction for Bill Gates father. Now, I ask, does that sound like a buffoon? Elton is a highly ranked chess player in Spokane. Now, call me crazy, but he sounds like a smart guy to me. Maybe the buffoonery comes from wild eyed bloggers who have no idea what they write on a besotted Friday night.
saveyourtatas on October 09 at 1:51 a.m.
Oh and by the way, Shogan tries to control everyone..what they say…do..think, all of it. You can’t have an opinion or thought that he disagrees with, if you do your a thorn in his side. It’s to bad because I no longer attend city council meetings because of his rudeness.
Ron_the_Cop on October 09 at 9:47 a.m.
Saveyourtatas, Standing Tall, Warren Peace and others (AKA Dave Elton?)
Look Dave don’t fixate on ChefGus. John Olsen did what I may have done under like circumstances. Your rhetoric did cross the line and others indeed may have indeed felt threatened. I was not involved directly but assisted when my former City’s Council was terrorized and shot by a disgruntled citizen in a room adjacent to the Chambers before their meeting was to begin. I knew all of those injured including the officers that responded and shot the assailant. So DO BE CAREFUL in your rants. You can read more here:
Riverside City Hall Shooting
Main Street Miracle
http://www.pe.com/reports/2008/cityhall/
Fortunately the jury had the common sense to short through this mess as I do believe you struck a chord within Spokane’s power elite. Through you they were sending a message to all Spokanite’s don’t challenge the feudal rulers or there will be consequences.
As for Shogan I agree he rules City Council Meetings like a tin pot dictator. I too have suffered from his obnoxious and paternalistic behavior. He often forgets who he works for - WE THE PEOPLE.
Here’s a video of my first appearance before Council:
Ron T. Cop takes on Spokane City Council
http://tinyurl.com/37a92ej
You would do well instead of hurling barbs at our ruling lords - Mayor Verner, the City Council, the City Attorney’s Office and their minions as led by the power elite, to use your financial resources wisely and constructively. May I suggest you hire a forensic public budgeting/accounting expert to comb through the City’s finances and the ongoing structural deficits that are the root cause of the apparent need to layoff public safety personnel.
As I challenged the Police Guild to set their sights higher (please rhetorical reference only) than on the recent pay raises for certain City officials:
The Guild does itself no favors in taking cheap shots. What they need to do is target and make public the slush fund accounts that the City keeps off the annual budget - the Bank of Hein (Sp?) The Solid Waste Reserve Account. Mr. Cooley could you please explain what the $40M to $50M sitting in this reserve fund is encumbered for? Is this a prudent reserve or is it hoarding of public taxpayer money? This is one of the City’s piggy banks that it loans itself money - the YMCA building and more.
Someone should ask the WA Board of Accountancy if they’ve made a deposition yet on the complaint filed against Mr. Cooley for his misuse of the term CPA with his name:
Gavin Cooley CFO Spokane, WA - Misuse of CPA complaint filed
http://tinyurl.com/ylmmodu
… The City elected are playing a bait and switch by not coming to grips with a structural deficit that was caused by the RPS Settlement Agreement. RPS Bonds I and II will ultimately cost the taxpayers of Spokane $100M. I’m not at all impressed if it’s true that the assistant city attorneys are getting a substantial raise for inferior legal work - Rocky re the Zehm Case and now the Ombudsman ordinance revision with Breean Beggs. Need I mention that the City Attorney’s Office was a chargeable principal in the RPS Bond Frauds (See http://tinyurl.com/ykemtqr and http://tinyurl.com/ybgkjqe )
[See CFJ’s Tim Connor’s recent article on the antics of Asst. City Attorney Rocky Treppiedi that has aided in covering up police misconduct in this City:
Working the Darkside
http://cforjustice.org/2010/10/07/working-the-dark-side/
[Continued]
Ron_the_Cop on October 09 at 9:47 a.m.
[Continued from above]
Current parking meter revenue of about $2M is being used to service the debt from RPS bonds II as part of the RPS Settlement Agreement. What takes some digging is this payment is much more like $3M. The parking revenue is not enough to cover the costs of collecting and producing this revenue - a big item is personnel costs of those that collect the money from the meters and enforcement. This is a hidden subsidy of perhaps $1/2M to $1M per year that comes from the General Fund if the parking revenue generated isn’t enough to cover the debt service on RPS Bonds II and these additional costs of collecting this revenue.
Det. Ron Wright (Retired)
Former two term president of the Riverside Police Officers’ Assn
Riverside, CA
eagleproducer on October 09 at 10:09 a.m.
Ron: Jim West revealed the structural deficit and its cause years ago. We remember what happened to him and now David Elton is experiencing similar treatment and character assassination.
Where is chefgus? I have a couple of very simple questions that I believe need answered.
Chef: I’ve been asking myself the same question over and over lately: If you were really worried about David Elton doing either Shogan or Betsy Cowles harm, why wouldn’t dropping dime on him place you in danger as well? If they should be afraid, so should you, right? It sounds like someone is going to jail because you can’t mind your own business.
What did you stand to gain? Neither Cowles or Shogan would cross the street to spit on you if you were ablaze while Elton would probably smother the flames with his own body. I don ‘t get it dude. I admire your work with the poor, but this one just doesn’t float in the realm of common sense, and if it doesn’t make sense, something isn’t true.
Here is what I’ve arrived at in the vacuum of your silence over this verdict: You acted in self-interest. You ran the possibility of anything coming back to you because of knowledge and possession of the e-mail. That’s why you acted. Nothing else really makes sense other than that.
saveyourtatas on October 09 at 10:27 a.m.
Ron T. Cop, I am not discounting that others may have felt threatened by the email, but ChefGus saying he was acting out of genuine fear baffles me. So genuine that he himself didn’t call the police right away. He was so worried who does he call, Shogan, that’s all. Nobody else. Only after hours had gone by, at the urging of Mr. Shogan, did he call the police. Doesn’t seem to me he was as worried as he claimed. If I had received the email and was genuinely worried for the lives of the people on it, guess who my first phone call would have been to? The Police, not Shogan.
Olsen stated that he didn’t call anyone else because he didn’t have their phone numbers…only, Shogan. Cowles are in the upper echelon of Spokane…I am just a grunt. Olsen’s true worry for the safety of the people named in the email should have at the very least warranted an immediate phone call to police. Is that what happened? No instead he called Mr. Shogan…that was all. Two plus two usually equals four, but in this situation I am only get three for an answer. If it doesn’t make sense, then there must be something missing. I understand that another party turned the email over as well, and as he stated in his testimony it was out of obligation. Nothing more nothing less…
Spoketucky, I believe Chefgus felt he would gain a few extra minutes of talking time at city council meetings…we all know how difficult it is to get those extra minutes with Prez. Shogan.
Ron_the_Cop on October 09 at 11:26 a.m.
Spoketucky and Saveyourtatas,
Look I do know John Olsen. We differ on many ideological issues. I have met him in person, exchanged many emails with him, had him in to talk with my criminal justice classes re homeless issues and participate with him on a committee.
It’s my personal opinion that he truly felt he had a duty/responsibility to give a heads up to those involved. As I said above as much as I have issues with our ruling feudal leaders, under similar circumstances I may have done the same thing. I don’t think Olsen considered Dave’s rant an imminent threat or he would have called the police first.
As I mentioned above how about focusing on some issues (see above) that really will cause the ruling elite heartburn, instead of obsessing with what Olsen did or didn’t do.
Ron_the_Cop on October 09 at 11:29 a.m.
One last item - from Olsen training as a crisis counselor I believe it was when Elton wouldn’t give him a commitment on the phone that he wouldn’t hurt anyone was when Olsen felt he had to notify someone.
misjustice on October 09 at 11:39 a.m.
Not saying that my experience is the same as the Chef’s but when I was working answering the 24 hour sexual assault crisis line I was considered a mandatory reporter. Perhaps in his capacity as a crisis counselor he had a similar mandate.
At any rate, the jury did the correct thing here as the case was over charged.
KayesVoice on October 09 at 12:42 p.m.
I think the heading on this story is all wrong…. Shouldn’t it read “Jury found Cowles/Shogan untrustworthy”…. Meghann you got this all wrong….
I am very frustrated by this verdict for even the guilt of harassment. I think this case throws freedom of speech out the window…. We better be careful what we blog even….
When I think of all the blogs I read where people are saying they would love to see this or that person dead…. Or the blogs where I read people saying they would love to see the castration of this or that person…. This verdict basically is telling us that even saying these things is misdemeanor harassment….
I know several of you will disagree with me, but I am looking at the bigger picture….
Oh…. I left out one element…. I guess it wouldn’t be misdemeanor harassment for us everyday people…. Only if we say it about the Cowles or Shogan….
Silly me for thinking we all hold the same human value in this world!
misjustice on October 09 at 12:56 p.m.
@ Kayes; I think that you hit the finer point here; who the “victims” were.
bszottlinger on October 09 at 4:01 p.m.
I’m really at a loss here. I don’t know Elton, John Olsen, Shogan, Cowles, or any of the other players. What exactly did Olsen do wrong?
He had some interaction with an individual he knows to be bi-polar. He was concerned that Elton’s rants might escalate. He knows Shogan is in a position where he can make a judgment about what direction he (Shogan) wants to go, call the cops and get direct access, get a MHP involved, forget it and pass it off as typical Elton, have someone in authority simply go talk to Elton and make an assessment, get a definitive restraining order, or what ever other options might be available to an elected council person. Shogan chose to call the cops and make a report. Olsen didn’t. The second Shogan called the cops he knew it would be a big deal because of his position, and that of Cowles. He also knew that the cops and the prosecutor would jump all over it. But Olsen had nothing to do with that. Once the report was made Shogan and Cowles could have backed off the charges like Stacey Cowles did, but they chose not to. Olsen didn’t have anything to do with that, he didn’t make the report, he wasn’t the victim, he had no control over what direction the case went.
Perhaps this was the best way to handle it, as I’m sure a condition of probation is going to be some more counseling. But what the heck did Olsen do wrong? Was he supposed to just sit on his thumbs and keep his fingers crossed and hope that nothing happened?
I would have done the same damn thing something like this. “Look Shogan, here is what I know, I’m concerned, but you are in a better position then me to deal with it if you feel it should be a concern, so the ball is in your court.”
How can you blame a guy for doing what he honestly feels is right?
saveyourtatas on October 09 at 4:09 p.m.
Yes. “K” did that. And , detective …this is not David Elton. If you do your homework, there were only 6 people thqat attended almost every minute of the trial. All were friends of Elton except for the ACLU guy (Meghann, who is really nice, was not there for most). Meghann and Ryan Pitts know who I am. The rest of you will have to guess. I have known David Elton for more than a decade. I was mad at David because he said, on the witness stand, “John Olsen is a good man”. Imagine that. He had the wisdom to see the good in Olsen when K and Terri and the paralegals for Hodgson were flabbergasted. David knew Olsen was probably trying to endear himself to Shogan and Betsy, similar to “Gus’s” social climbing in the recent mayors race. David looked beyond that and said, simply, “anybody who gives as much time and money to the poor cannot be all bad, and John is smart as heck. I want him to know I miss him and think of him as a friend and a damn good man, regardless of all the legal fees and hassles. Olsen makes Spokane better through helping the homeless. How can you ever argue otherwise. He is not all bad”. When Elton said that, we looked at eachother in slack-jawed amazement. Even Dave Laird mentioned in the hall how he thinks Olsen is “slippery with the truth”.
bszottlinger on October 09 at 4:20 p.m.
I’m not a “Detective”, a bit defective perhaps. Okay whatever, if your position is Olsen is a social climbing, self-serving person then so be it. I don’t know him. I still would have done the same thing and I don’t need to be in anyone’s good graces. This joint is amazing.
KayesVoice on October 09 at 4:24 p.m.
Save you are so right….. I can’t say that I am a David Elton expert…. But I can say he is a decent guy who didn’t deserve the “concern” that Olsen showed in going out of his way to see David prosecuted for sending a dark comedic rant to family and what he thought were “close” friends…..
The thing I hope David gets out of this is to think twice about who is considered “friend”…..
I am still amazed David is so nice towards Olsen…. I guess its easier to think someone was trying to do the right thing than to think someone I respect is trying to screw me to climb the proverbial social ladder…..
Keep your head up David…. Eat crow Olsen…. Sorry I take that back…. I don’t want to be accused of harassment…. Oops I forgot…. Olsen is “just a grunt”, I am safe….. Whew!!
saveyourtatas on October 09 at 4:27 p.m.
Zott, Olsen created the whole thing when he chose to call, after Elton told him he was joking about leaving Shogan off the list. There is much more to this than the public knows because the judge kept it out. The fact that Elton and Olsen had major policy differences about homosexuality and how Elton believed Olsen “pushed and nudged” children toward a Gay Life through his volunteering at Oddysee. Olsen had an intrinsic dislike for Elton and it was Olsen and ONLY Olsen that convinced the cops “Elton might have skills with a rifle”. One singular busy body cost David Elton’s family almost 200 thousand dollars and nearly two years of inability to testify at city council. All three had a motivation. Olsen (wannabe), Betsy (RPS) and Shogan (RecallJoeShogan.com). Although David Elton is a nice guy who views this in a philosophical manner, this really was a violation of both the truth and the law(“Malice and misconduct by the prosecutors office). According to what I heard in the hall, Elton now plans to represent himself a week from Monday against his ex-wife. His attorney thinks this is complete insanity, no matter how much time Elton spent at Stanford Law School and BYU law. I hope and pray David will change his mind and use Bevan Maxey (Elton calls him the best in town, “up there with Vovos”). David Elton is a dreamer and an idealist. But he is most certainly not a lawyer. I pray for him.
Ron_the_Cop on October 09 at 5:11 p.m.
David - I think? Other than Marshall Smith I don’t think there were many others in the courtroom that all seem to have firsthand accounts of the proceedings. The jury rendered a just verdict. Move on. Olsen is a decent guy.
As I said up thread if you want to throw money around where it might do some good, hire a forensic public budget/accountant to find the slush funds the City’s hiding and also to show how the citizens were robbed in the RPS Bond Frauds of $100M. Give the guy my RICO report and direct him to Connor’s and Shook’s information. I would have the forensic guy start with Gavin Cooley and his right hand man Tim Dunivant. Cooley’s got much explaining to do.
Ron the Cop AKA Rocketsbrain
If you do this the House of Cowles will come tumbling down and take our City leaders and the City Attorney’s Office with it. This is a RHETORICAL comment.. This would be a good public service that you have the resources to do.
Brad,
Contact me off line at:
nar9350 [at] gmail [dot] com
saveyourtatas on October 09 at 5:36 p.m.
Here are names of the people there for most of the trial.
Terri Andersen (PJALS/”VOICES”)
Kiandra Bullock (VOICES/Police Accountability))
Belle Elton (Belinda…Elton’s wife)
Michael Lyons (Police Accountability)
Mike Cronin, attorney and close friend fo Elton
ACLU guy
3 paralegals for Hodgson (Alicia, Terry)
Marshal Smith (not much)
Law Students from Gonzaga (mostly jury selection and day one)
One unknown guy (who goes to court every day???)
*Judge Richard White came by and waived hello to Elton*
greenlibertarian on October 09 at 11:46 p.m.
That “Jack Mormonism” will sink you every time.
Again I say, regardless, David Elton, peace be with you.
eagleproducer on October 10 at 9:17 p.m.
chefgus: Crickets.
saveyourtatas on October 11 at 5:42 a.m.
I think many are wondering why Dr. Olsen did what he did, and I am angry at him too, but if David forgives him, maybe we should too. If Olsen did actually and authentically fear for Shogan or Betsy or anybody on the list (or off), he probably did have a duty, both ethically and morally, to at least think it over and call someone. He did that. I think Gus might not be commenting because he will be a witness again a week from today when Elton goes on trial again, against his ex-wife. Does that sound like “double jeopardy”?
Crickets from the prosecutors office.
Ron_the_Cop on October 11 at 9:19 a.m.
Saveyourtatas,
Re John Olsen and his silence on this subject in the S-R Blogs, I believe you’re correct.
saveyourtatas on October 11 at 9:44 a.m.
Ron the Cop, my husband wanted me to watch your testimony(city council), and we both agree that you have both skill and guts.
Ron_the_Cop on October 11 at 12:54 p.m.
Thx. Read my RICO report I linked to above. This is how to tank the feudal aristocracy in Spokane. Dave needs to be consistent with his meds and DO NOT MIX THEM with alcohol!
The powers that be/Spokane’s power elite will slam Dave anytime he crosses the line with his rants even if they may be in jest. I too would have probably warned Shogan out of a sense of duty/responsibility. Fortunately Dave had the financial resources to defend himself. Anyone else would have been pled out to felonies early on if represented by the public defenders office. The key to win this war is to fight the battles intelligently and not to go off half cocked. The aristocracy will serve your head on a platter if they can.
Re my testimony to the City Council. The one I posted at YouTube was my first appearance. I was again there in December of last year. Still no answer to my question/demand. Why? The City does have the authority to inspect the garage contrary to what Mr. Rush and the City Attorney’s Office say. I will not park in the RPS parking garage until the City has some one with the appropriate structural engineering credentials inspect it who is immuned from the influence of the usual suspects. The whole garage needs to be inspected. Esp to ensure the retro fit of the parking barriers after the Savage death “as built” was done to the engineering firm’s specs that the City hired to review the structural engineering of the plans submitted by the Cowles.
I will email David later. Hiring a forensic accountant to bird dog Cooley’s “Bank of Hein” (Solid Waste Reserve Fund - euphamistically named after the former Director Dennis Hein) and also where the real dirt is in the Spokane Regional Solid Waste Agency and the “Waste to Energy Project.” This project is “hinked up.” It just needs someone with the skills to uncover how the money is being siphoned off from this project. Look I’m no “greenie” by any stretch of the imagination but the “Waste to Energy Plant” is all smoke and mirrors with a revenue stream flowing out of the pockets of Spokane’s ratepayers and potentially polluting the atmosphere with hazardous by-products.. The forensic accountant can nail down just whose pockets this money is flowing to.
Read Connor’s and Shook’s reporting for the Inlander:
Burned: The Life & Times of Spokane’s Incinerator
http://www.cqs.com/wheel.htm
The City of Harrisburg, PA as reported by the WSJ got itself behind the 8-ball on a similar project:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703720004575478102686910166.html
Read more here and click on the “home” page for more information:
http://spokanewasteofenergy.com/Runaround.htm
Det. Ron Wright (Retired)
eagleproducer on October 11 at 3:58 p.m.
Ron: I’ve been there and done that on the Solid Waste issue with a documentary I produced, wrote and directed in 2000 called “What a Bunch of Garbage.” No one cared back then and no one cares now.
That film was my introduction to the power culture in Spokane and the eventual protagonists in the film, former S.C.A.P.C.A. director, Eric Skelton, and County Health Officer, Kim Thornburg, have been summarily drummed out of town since then.
My attempts to examine the bonds for the Waste to Energy plant, along with records of stack tests at the plant were denied as well as were interview requests with Cooley and City Public Works & Utilities Director Roger Flint. Several other elected officials who sat on the Solid Waste Advisory board also declined to be interviewed for the film. I did get to speak with Flint in person after he called and e-mailed the Executive Producer complaining of harassment and threats from myself and to release the city’s position regarding denial of access to information and the interview requests. He was a complete a$$hat that appeared extremely frightened at the prospect of someone doing the type of digging you speak of. Shook and Connor both denied interview requests as well, simply stating they stood by what they reported and they were print journalists and since the story was published they were good with that. The one elected official who sat on the Solid Waste Advisory Board that did eventually agree to be interviewed was Kate McCaslin and she was honest and forthcoming with her replies to questions. She was extremely reluctant to be interviewed on camera. We eventually reached an agreement where she was allowed access to interview questions prior to the shoot and also would not sign a performance release until she viewed the final cut of the film. Those are conditions I would in most circumstances never acquiesce to, but it was the only way to get a person in her position to go on record. I always knew something more was stewing beneath the surface of my film/story but I was swayed to let my film stand as my statement about the affair and to leave it alone. This advice was repeated by many people close to me, their worries being that the garbage industry is generally mobbed up (no that is not just a stereotype!) and it would be better for my long-term health to move onto another story.
My intention was a sweeping epic that demonstrated the sickening miasma of corruption that’s been brewed in Spokane’s City Hall for decades. The players were all to admit their malfeasances, motivations and above all, to whom their loyalties were pledged. What eventually emerged was a piece that demonstrated public ignorance about the solid waste stream in Spokane, the possible health effects from incineration and the underlying reason for that ignorance: Unelected public officials who aren’t accountable to anyone and who don’t have to answer to anyone either.
It’s fun to watch though, at least visually!
Ron_the_Cop on October 11 at 5:54 p.m.
Thanks Spoketucky,
Where can some one get or watch your documentary?