POLITICAL SCHOOLS SPORTS OPINION WEEKLY BEAT COMMUNITY Former Council- woman Shellie Milne City of Hemet Gate- speaks out Hemet keepers: fixes the enigmatic saviors, or HUSD recognized books for reducing Noah Fitzpatrick and extortionists? Sculptor in the A2 A6 absenteeism B1 Kalianna Lesa B2 C1 orange groves D1 Thursday, June 22, 2017 VOL XVI EDITION 25 www.thevalleychronicle.com 50 cents (including tax) The Valley Chronicle sues City of Hemet City refuses to comply with PRA requests regarding Webb defense Denials of public records ■ RUSTY StrAIT June 15 in Riverside Superior Court he was “peering southwards toward SENIOR REPORTER against City Clerk Sarah McComas, the end of his street [and] he saw ■ RUSTY StrAIT considered exempt from this the City of Hemet, and “Does 1-5.” two figures underneath a streetlight SENIOR REPORTER definition, i.e., the shopping The Valley Chronicle last week filed Until The Valley Chronicle found with one of the individuals chasing list phoned from home, the suit against the City of Hemet in an out last fall about Webb’s involve- the other.” The City of Hemet has been letter to a public officer from effort to force compliance with the ment in the homicide of Anthony stonewalling The Valley a friend which is totally void California Public Norman, and later, Two men fighting in the night Chronicle and its readers for of reference to governmen- Records Act. the City of Hemet Unable to identify the individuals months on legitimate requests tal activities.” Recently the The newspaper for injecting itself into the out on the street, he went back in- for information that normally law was amended to include months had been re- matter without any side and called 911 at “around 11:41 would be a matter of public personal electronic devices questing information The Public Records cause, the Norman a.m.” to make a report and request record. such as government employ- – unsuccessfully – on Act guarantees vs. Webb wrongful an officer come and investigate. Public records are broadly ees’ personal cell phones and a variety of issues it death litigation was While on the phone with the police defined to include “any writing email accounts. felt were of interest public access to gov- buried somewhere in dispatcher, there came a loud knock containing information relat- It’s common for newspa- to the public, in par- ernment records, the archives. Nobody on his door from the wife of a neigh- ing to the conduct of a public’s pers to ask for certain types ticular how much especially financial seemed to care about bor, Michael Darragh. The highly business prepared, owned, of documents from govern- money the Hemet records. It is unfor- a 21-year-old kid with agitated woman revealed to Webb used or retained by any state ment entities, such as police City Attorney was the IQ of an 11-year- that her husband was in physical or local agency regardless of reports, accident reports, in- billing taxpayers to tunate that the City old who suffocated combat with another man in front physical form or characteris- surance policies, budgetary mount a question- seeks to conceal at the hands of two of their house and wanted Webb to tic. Citing with approval an information, political dona- able legal defense of records that will strong men, one of come and help her husband. even broader definition of tion forms, and crime statis- Hemet’s deputy po- help shed light on whom happened to Webb told the dispatcher on the public records adopted by the tics. Most agencies willingly lice chief named in a be a captain of the phone that he needed to go help his California Attorney General, comply; however “the City of wrongful death suit. how much money Hemet Police De- neighbor and dropped the phone another court has stated: Hemet (CoH) has a habit of not In order to force the City has spent partment. on his couch. “This definition is intended complying, delaying its reply the City of Hemet defending Webb in For those unfa- Webb had no idea who was right to cover every conceivable or just ignoring the request,” to reveal how much miliar with the case, or who was wrong in the situation. kind of record that is involved said Mary Ann Morris, editor money was spent a private matter.” here’s a quick refresh- Nevertheless, he rushed out of the in the governmental process of The Valley Chronicle. “I’ve defending Depu- - Chad Morgan, er: At approximately house barefoot, clad only in his paja- and will pertain to any new never had so much trouble ty Chief of Police attorney representing 11:30 p.m. on Dec. ma bottoms, and raced to the scene. form of record-keeping instru- getting information from an Charles “Rob” Webb The Valley Chronicle 24, 2012, Webb was It was dark and it was difficult to see ment as it is developed. Only agency as I do with the City of in the Anthony Nor- asleep in his Murrieta who was on top or bottom. He saw purely personal information Hemet. I ask for a public record man wrongful death case, The Valley home when a loud noise woke him. two men on the sidewalk – one on unrelated to ‘the conduct of Chronicle, through its parent com- He got up and checked from his front the public’s business’ could be 4SEE FOIAS ON A-3 pany, Verican Inc., filed a complaint door. In a deposition, he stated that 4SEE WEBB ON A-3 Community comes out to Relay for Life Cancer survivors bring strength, hope to others ■ MELISSA DIAZ HERNANDEZ REPORTER Relay for Life’s opening ceremony June 10 at the track of San Jacinto High School was one of strength, Photo by John Strangis perseverance, celebration and hope. A collision between a private citizen and a Hemet police officer on his way to an “officer needs It brought together a crowd of all assistance” call was determined to be the fault of the police officer. ages and backgrounds. Commu- nities like our valley come together every year at more than 3,500 Relay Hemet police officer determined events around the country to sup- port the American Cancer Society at fault in April 28 collision and celebrate cancer survivors and CHP provides Traffic Collision Report after HPD denies access those who cared for them during their illness and recovery. ■ KYLE SELBY from the California Highway Pa- After the opening ceremony, an Photo by Melissa Diaz Hernandez/The Valley Chronicle REPORTER trol (CHP). emotional first two laps were taken. Survivors take their first lap of the relay wrapped in strength and celebration. The Traffic Collision Report was Survivors claimed the track for the A vehicular collision involving a provided by CHP in response to a first lap, and their caretakers joined Sundae Sayles, legislative assistant “I want to applaud and congratu- private citizen and a Hemet police Public Records Act request for the them during the second lap. Hemet to Third District County Supervi- late [the survivors]. I do that to myself officer on April 28, at the intersection information. A complete report, Mayor Linda Krupa stood by and sor Chuck Washington, joined in every year on my anniversary,” said of Acacia Avenue and Palm Avenue with sensitive information redact- cheered on the survivors, then the the first lap with survivors. Sayles, Sayles. “When I was going through in Hemet was determined to be the ed, was provided within 10 days, survivors with their caretakers. Krupa a nine-year cancer survivor, spoke the time of cancer, it was the Amer- police officer’s fault, according to the has lost several family members to with elegance and enthusiasm as she Traffic Collision Report received 4SEE ACCIDENT ON A-3 cancer – one very recently. described her own battle with cancer. 4SEE RELAY FOR LIFE ON A-5 Nick Tusant makes gains; transfers to acute care ■ MARY ANN MORRIS worthy of a huge party. EDITOR You see, Nick was on his way to West Valley High School on Most teenagers spend their 17th March 24 when he was hit by birthday with a big party, perhaps a truck. Witness and police at a local pizza joint, hanging out accounts state Nick was in the with their friends and family, or crosswalk near the intersection hitting the beach, especially now of Mustang Way and Morgan that summer break is here. Nick Hill Road when the accident Tusant celebrated his 17th birth- occurred. The early-morning day a little differently than most collision left him in a coma for Photo contributed by Jessica Tusant kids – he spent it in the acute care weeks and with multiple seri- Nick Tusant celebrates his 17th birthday wing of a Loma Linda juvenile ous injuries, including a broken among friends and family at a juvenile reha- rehabilitative hospital. And for bilitative hospital. His girlfriend, Cameryn his parents, it’s an achievement 4SEE TUSANT ON A-6 Hiatt, joined in the festivities. A2 POLITICAL June 22 - 28, 2017 www.thevalleychronicle.com Fiscal Year Sources Uses Balance 2011-12 $1,252,092 $ 1,268,329 ($ 16,237) 2012-13 $ 1,000,020 $ 1,206,736 ($ 206,716) 2013-14 $ 1,100,004 $ 1,299,906 ($ 199,902) 2014-15 $ 1,010,100 $ 1,330,536 ($ 320,436) 2015-16 $ 1,360,155 $ 1,850,051 ($ 489,906) Total ($ 1,233,197) Chart by City of Hemet This chart outlines the Attorney Services Fund’s operations over the past five years. There is a $1.23 million negative balance. City of Hemet fixes the books Fiscal Year Litigation/Special Total Costs Project Costs Prior budget work study revealed negative 2011-12 Unavailable $ 1, 268,329 2012-13 $ 802,305 $ 1,206,736 attorney services fund balance 2013-14 $ 902,561 $ 1,299,906 ■ MELISSA DIAZ a true number?” Canfield The staff report from the 2014-15 $ 930,588 $ 1,330,536 HERNANDEZ answered, “Correct.” June 20 work study specifies 2015-16 $ 1, 340, 387 $ 1,850,051 REPORTER “The attorney services fund Chart by City of Hemet State auditor warned of had a negative fund balance This chart outlines the cost breakout from the expenditures resulting in the negative Attorney Services Fund Administrative Services Con- ‘inaccurate information of $1,233,197 as of June 30, balance for just litigation and special projects.