Re: Apples and Oranges

The experience of just one of the residents in the village (which occurred later in the raid) does not reflect the overall experience of the code enforcement raid. The government employees were told to expect drug labs, armed individuals, neglected and endangered children, auto theft and unsanitary conditions. When these conditions were not the reality, the government employees were more relaxed and less concerned later in the raid.

When a citizen receives a letter advising "an inspection warrant will be served upon these premises for the purpose of identification of violations of County Codes and related ordinances", they would not reasonably expect the early morning arrival of a hovering helicopter, a swat team, 9 government agencies and over 50 government employees arriving to "inspect" for code violations. Upon first arrival, camouflaged swat team members surrounded and then entered "the village" creating a capture net. Then all residents located were told to sit on the ground over at the Gram's property and provide their identification. There are two videotapes of this code enforcement "inspection".

"Code inspections" are conducted under the authority of an administrative warrant, civil code of procedure sections 1822.50 et seq. An "administrative warrant" is not a "search warrant" and only authorizes the inspection for code violations not a search of a person's residence.

There were two residences that were actually searched when the residents were not home. One residence was a mobilehome, which was not permitted, therefore, the mobilehome's presence in itself was a violation of the code. Members of law enforcement entered the mobilehome anyway while the person was not home and looked through cupboards and drawers. Another person received a phone call about the code enforcement raid while at his place of employment and came home to be present during the inspection of his home. He was present during the inspection and then asked if there was any further need to gain entry to his residence. He was advised that they were done with their inspection and he could go back to work. Upon returning home that evening, he noticed physical evidence that indicated that his residence had been entered and searched after he had left.

During this period of time, Nancy Bates was filing complaints with the various government agencies, DEA, FBI, etc. concerning the illegal activities of Mike Castro at the Bowen Ranch and the circumstances surrounding the suspicious death of her husband. "The Village" is referred to as "Bowen Ranch Village" and "Bowen Ranch" all over various documents including the warrant log, the sheriff's reports, the plan of operation, and the sheriff's department news release. What a perfect plan for corrupt BLM and law enforcement personnel to deflect the crimes being conducted by Mike Castro at the Bowen Ranch to "the village" by referring to "the village" as "Bowen Ranch Village".

Members of law enforcement claimed that they had "no idea" that there was any marijuana cultivation occurring at the "Bowen Ranch Village" prior to the code enforcement raid. The helicopter just happened to fly over Richard Channing's residence and spotted the plants. However, there are 45 lots in "the village" and they had only 44 administrative warrants. Guess whose lot did not have an administrative warrant? It would not have been Richard Channing's lot? What a coincidence.

I was shocked as an American citizen when I found out about this huge swat team operation at "the village".

I researched the law and became familiar with numerous cases involving the egregious actions of code enforcement all over San Bernardino County. I have reviewed court documents, photos, videotapes, law enforcement reports, declarations and interviewed numerous people about their experiences with code enforcement.

I discovered that the county had done away with their "rural" code and were now enforcing a stricter urban code in rural areas. State law requires that a rural code be provided when rural conditions exist within the county. The county had passed ordinances authorizing them to add the costs of code enforcement activity to your tax bill, if you were unable to pay the full amount, the county would default your property and gain title. This is being done all over the county.

I will relate to you just one story about the egregious actions of code enforcement. A husband, wife and five children lived in Phelan off of highway 395 and were in the business of selling army surplus products. A code enforcement employee was out to their fenced in residence with locked gate (for some unknown reason) and in going along side of their property peered through their fence and spotted a mortar storage tube lying on the ground. The code enforcement employee decided that this mortar storage tube must be stolen and went back to alert the sheriff's department. The sheriff's department obtained a search warrant.

Members of the sheriff's department proceeded to completely ransack the property looking through everything, knocking holes in the walls, throwing furniture around, searching the place thoroughly. They eventually found 9 30 Ott 6 tracer rounds, which are illegal in the State of California. The search was videotaped by the sheriff's department, however, somehow this videotape was "lost".

The wife came home to this shocking situation and was immediately arrested and put in jail her children taken by child protective services. The husband was out of state at the time and upon returning to California was immediately arrested and put in jail. The wife felt coerced to agree to a plea bargain in order to be free to take care of her children. The husband is still in state prison today several years later. Talk about destroying a family.

The residence was so destroyed that it was declared uninhabitable and was eventually bulldozed for a cost of $20,000. The wife has filed a civil lawsuit against the county for their egregious actions and the lawsuit is pending.

HOW MANY TIMES DO I NEED TO STATE THAT I DID NOT CONTACT CODE ENFORCEMENT?

I REPORTED MY CONCERN ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE VIOLATIONS AT THE BOWEN RANCH TO A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COUNTY SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE, not code enforcement. The justification is the concern for public safety due to the unhealthful conditions and Mike Castro's continued violence.

HONESTLY, LaughingBear, have you ever called code enforcement about what you have referred to as your neighbor's junkyard?