A U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer made a miles-long journey off federal property this week to warn a Chico man not to post advertisements for his business on a Forest Service bulletin board. He then detained him after the man allegedly slammed a door in the officer's face. Forest Service officer Paul Zohovetz asked for Chico police backup Wednesday when the man he was contacting, identified as Jeff Newman, 53, reportedly slammed a door in his face and allegedly refused to come out of his residence. Officials said Newman had violated Forest Service rules by posting a flier on a bulletin board near Colby Mountain in Lassen National Forest, offering a cross-country ski tuneup service. Newman is a painter by trade and told Zohovetz he was just trying to earn a little extra money to make ends meet. Newman, reportedly a diabetic, began to shake and convulse, then tried to pull away from Zohovetz and a Chico officer, who were forced to put him on the ground. Zohovetz' supervisor, Capt. Mike Zunino, said he couldn't comment on why the officer issued a warning to Newman in person...read more
A FS employee in his government-issued costume shows up at your private residence without a warrant and demands you exit the residence. If you refuse you are breaking the law? Someone please show me the federal statute he has violated.
I'm also curious if there is a "Don't Slam The Door" statute.
All this over violating a bulletin board policy? Please remember this the next time you read a story about the FS not having enough personnel to protect the federal lands.
4 comments:
I am sure there is much more to the story then what we have read. I know Forest Service Officers are very professional and would not overreact.
It appears that the FS gun slinger was making a citizen arrest because he was offended by someone who failed to be intimidated by his guns and chains and all that other hardware. Why didn't the city cop arrest the FS for impersonating and officer? Doesn't this story indicate that the FS employee committed a crime of trespassing and assault while armed? At the very least the FS bully must now present evidence that the FS has jurisdiction for this subject. If this leads to a California styled law suit, my guess is that the Chico officer has accepted liability for the federal employee's actions.
The forest service officer acted unreasonably when he tried to arrest Mr. Newman. He clearly was out of his jurisdiction and he deserves to lose his job or face other serious disciplinary action for his behavior. Our Constitutional rights to privacy and unreasonable detainment must be upheld. It is not against the law for Mr. Newman to be disrespectful towards a federal officer, but the FS officer clearly overreacted by using unnecessary force to detain Mr. Newman. The Forest Service already has a poor record in Northern California to fight fires or "manage" them, now they are controlling our forests and harassing citizens. I hope that they get a lot of hell from the press for their behavior.
It sounds like most of you don't understand Forest Service Jurisdiction, Authority or Law. Why don't you research something before you post an uneducated opinion.
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