Blue Lake Police Chief Arrested for Rape
Blue Lake Police Chief David Gundersen, 53, was arrested in McKinleyville Friday on suspicion of rape.
Gundersen was being held at the Humboldt County Jail on $500,000 bail, according to jail personnel Saturday. Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos confirmed that Gundersen was arrested in McKinleyville by DA investigators and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department.
”I am aware of it,” Gallegos said. “I was aware of it last night.”
Gallegos said Gundersen was arrested on suspicion of rape of a spouse, but he did not know the underlying facts.
Gundersen’s wife is a segeant on the Blue Lake police force.
Sheriff’s department spokeswoman Brenda Godsey said she does not know the circumstances of the arrest, or when the alleged crime was committed.
Gundersen was recently the subject of a grand jury investigation on another matter. He was accused of falsifying Department of Motor Vehicles records, which led to the suspension of a Blue Lake man’s drivers license in 2005. In October, Superior Court Judge Michael Brown granted a motion to dismiss those charges against Gundersen.
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Peace be with you
Another “can’t do nothing wrong” cop getting caught. They’ll defend him ’til they throw him to the lions.
love eternal
tad
but …. but….
she was on drugs and deserved to be raped!
signed,
Typical Cop Wife
Maybe Larry Glass and the rest of the Eureka City Council will chip in $75000 for this criminal’s defense too (?)
Maybe: please don’t drink and post.
Weren’t Gunderson and Arkley fraternity brothers?
Five comments and you dipshits already got Arkley on the thread.
3 comments and you dipshits already had Glass on this thread.
CPR: You define LAME. Loser.
“Gallegos said Gundersen was arrested on suspicion of rape of a spouse….”
his own spouse? rape charges like this always make me a bit suspiscious…….sounds like a tactic to gain an upper hand in a custody battle or something to that effect…..
but its there in black and white for the whole world to read.
4:04,
right…it clearly says SUSPICION of rape….innocent until proven guilty right?
you dont find it a bit strange that a wife would claim that her husband raped her?
Not if he raped her, Theo. There are many men who have raped their wives and girlfriends. Most aren’t ever reported.
It undoubtedly took more evidence than his wife claiming he raped her, like bruises, etc.
my wife and i call that roleplaying….
You do know that the little woman has a right to say no even to her husband, Theo?
It is only play if both are agreeable. Otherwise it is RAPE.
omg,
i know it all too well…….i only manage to succeed in about 25% of my attempts at it…….
This one could go either way. As mentioned so rudely by Theo Therme there could be some kind of cusstody/divorce situation and also as mentioned “innocent until proven guilty”. But I don’t think DA’s investigators would arrest and jail the C.O.P. of even a small department like Blue Lake without ample probable cause.
CPR, it’s sad but these people don’t have to drink to post this way.
This is great ammunition for the cop hating brigade but, I wouldn’t expect the local cops to be very supportive on this one.
It seems that no one talking has any real details so maybe we should wait and see.
Any way you look at it Gunderson’s career is over. As I understand he didn’t have much of a career anyway, more of just a job. And if there is even a small amount of truth to the allegations then jail is where he belongs.
Wow, Theo said that he role-plays rape with his wife? You are one sick and mentally defective little perv.
Yes, lets just start blaming the woman… sometimes you guys are completely predictable.
Yes 5:40 pm. And that is why so much spousal / cohabitant rape goes unreported.
Although this will (hopefully) break Tad’s heart, there will be little, if any, support for Gundersen in the law enforcement community, except for token quotes of support to the news folks. He is pretty much universally considered a “dipstick” amongst local cop brass. Even before he was hired in Blue Lake there was something about stolen cars in his yard where he used to live. I can just see Heraldo clapping his cloven little hooves together with glee over this one however.
Funny how the newspaper doesn’t mention the woman’s name, but it identifies her as being on the force and identifies her rank. They’re playing with semantics over not divulging the accuser’s/alleged victim’s name.
That’s right. The names of alleged victims are public information. It’s the newspapers that choose to withhold the names of accusers while publishing the names of the accused. Quite a double standard considering that sometimes accusations are false. You can’t unsmear that type of smear with an acquittal.
A fair policy — if you’re going to self-censor information — is to withhold both names until someone has been found guilty.
5:45 PM-The names of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking victims ARE NOT public information, unless the victim (or alleged victim if you prefer) signs a waiver to allow it. The news is just running right up to the edge of what they are allowed to release with her rank and department and it’s not like everyone doesn’t know who it is already.
Withholding both names would also alleviate the concern someone raised over rape allegations being used to gain an edge in custody proceedings or to damage public reputation. If the whole thing stays in the court room until a verdict is reached, then the only thing that matters is the question of guilt or innocence.
It would reduce the rate of false accusations and help the victims in court because the defense lawyer would have fewer motives to claim are behind the accusation.
Frank, arrest reports are public information. If someone filed a report, that person’s name is on the report.
Court records are also public, unless sealed by a judge. The victim’s name is readily available to the newspaper if it cares to seek it.
California Penal Code section 293. Check it out and then admit you don’t know what you are talking about.
Frank, re-read that. The first paragraph explains it’s a matter of public record.
The names of rape victims are not disclosed in police reports released to the public.
Time to clean house at 5th and I.
“…Superior Court Judge Michael Brown granted a motion to dismiss those charges against Gundersen…” After being indicted by the Grand Jury in 2005. It is time we demand justice from our courts and accountability of our police instead of rubber stamp approval of anything they take a notion to do.
To anyone who says they are innocent until proven guilty, I agree but would note that one of these two cops has committed a crime…
Andrew, then maybe you should try asking for the name. It’s a well established situation across this country that police departments aren’t always forthcoming with public information.
And _if_ the person has requested such non-disclosure it doesn’t mean it sticks. You guys assume an awful lot.
And there’s nothing stopping a reporter from simply sitting in the courtroom and obtaining the name. The judge can’t gag the press.
Gunderson’s case hasn’t been in a courtroom yet. The media will usually honor an alleged rape victim’s right to privacy. In most cases it doesn’t take long for a journalist covering a story to learn the victim’s identity. However, if a victim’s name gets out, especially in a high-profile case, then his/her identity is fair game.
I am glad to see the sudden interest in the ethics of pillorying people in the media based on accusations along with the idea that police might not always be correct in their accusations and arrests.
Correction; “police might not always be correct in their accusations and arrests.” should have read “police might not always be correct in their accusations, arrests, fatal shootings, beatings and immolations.”
Why isn’t the accused’s right to privacy honored by the media? Do you think that a rape accusation doesn’t destroy a person’s standing in the community and that an acquittal somehow makes things all better?
Withholding the names of victims of any type (rape, suicide, etc.) stigmatizes the situation. No one should be ashamed they were raped or ashamed that a relative or friend kill him or herself. Yet, we have the news media implying we should feel shame, which in turns causes fewer victims to report crimes or seek help. That’s the real shame. It’s a vicious cycle fueled in great part by the media.
Good luck in keeping a rape suspect’s name confidential. Although it’s been done.
I’m just saying it’s unethical, that’s all. A huge double standard.
Peace be with you
You all know if we knew the name of the victim there would be all kinds of anonymous telling us how he/she deserved it. That’s reason enough to keep victims names quiet. Until everyone admits that NOBODY deserves to either be raped or drug through the mud over it, it is best to protect the victims. All victims should have anonymity except in court.
love eternal
tad
I don’t think it’s a double standard.
When I was a cub reporter at my first daily newspaper job in Helena, Mont., the son of the chief justice of the state supreme court got arrested for rape after a relationship with one of his doxies went sour. The chief justice called the publisher, who then called me and forbade me to publish the suspect’s name unless and until the district attorney made a decision on whether to prosecute….which the DA ultimately decided against.
It’s a double-standard plain as day. You keep private the accuser, but not the accused. One person’s life is destroyed before there’s a guilty verdict. That’s unethical any way you slice it.
That’s true when the accusations are false.
Victims of rape have their lives destroyed whether there is a guilty verdict or not.
…and whether or not they call it “rape”. If it is sex without consent, it is rape.
The men who think the name of the victim should be released would have a different opinion if they were the victims of a male rapist.
There was a study done a short while ago that found that incompetent people are the ones most likely to over-estimate their abilities. In other words, incompetent people don’t know they’re incompetent.
Likewise, I doubt you’ll convince an unethical person that they’re acting in an unethical manner. There has been ample discussion in the public sphere about the double-standard in how rape cases are reported. To claim there isn’t a double standard is ignorant, or dishonest. Defend the double-standard, but don’t claim it doesn’t even exist.
Peace be with you 8:07
If you got raped as a guy and the press released your name then yes it would be a double standard. But to say there is not a difference between a rapist and a victim is just untrue.
I agree with all you say about the harms of false accusations. Hopefully people falsely accused would sue the shit out of the accuser. Then we would know who the other party is.
Certain accused, like children have laws preventing the release of their names, but for other accused we have a right to know. Victims that have truly been victimized shouldn’t be re-victimized in the press. I want to know if my public official is breaking the laws their sworn to uphold, and so should you.
love eternal
tad
That’s a straw man argument. I’m not discussing gender. You ignore the fact that falsely accused people are victims too, completely stigmatized by the publicity. Protecting the identity of the victim encourages false accusations, no matter the type of crime alleged. To not withhold the name of the accused is a double standard.
If the phrase “double standard” is hanging you up, substitute the word “wrong” or “unethical” or “heartless.”
If the media were to withhold the name of a rape suspect, then it would be a double standard for the media to publish the names of any and all criminal suspects unless they are convicted. Then the entire justice system would be conducted behind closed doors. Is that what you want?
Peace be with you
How does protecting the name of the victim encourages false accusations? Because we the public don’t get to vote on whether some sister got raped or not? Your talking apples and oranges or more correctly criminals and victims. Yes if you falsely accuse me of a crime after I get done defending myself in court I’m suing you. And you can count on your name becoming public them.
For you or anyone to say a woman should be put through the public ringer by coming forward with abuse, especially such an evil control abuse as rape, would encourage women to allow the abuse to continue.
love eternal
tad
Is the officer a Mormon? A Muslim?
It is relevant!
How many wives does he have?
It’s true what they say about us Americans. We are not mature in matters that touch upon sex.
The criminal justice system is largely conducted behind closed doors with the exception of pre-trial publicity.
I should not be baffled that the conversation on this article, in this thread, has focused tightly on matters of privacy when allegations of rape committed by a high ranking police officer is the subject of the article. I remember a recent thread on this blog which tarred Kim Starr for orchestrating a demonstration for Zachary Cooke on the first anniversary of his murder as somehow or another having empathy for a robber. Not an alleged robber or a kid we all felt was a robber but someone we knew was a robber and that, further more, it was his just deserts that Terry Liles walked up and emptied two clips into him as he slept in his sleeping bag.
Every day there are numerous names emblazoned across the front pages of the local propaganda rags and spread through out their interior with nary a word about the possible innocence of the alleged victims or guilt of the accused.
The second recent entry dwelling on the activities of Kim Starr concerned her behavior at a city council meeting where Virgina Bass claimed they were trying to have a civil discussion and that her angry speech would warrent her ejection. The complicity of the courts and media with murdering cops is also a crime and all have blood on their hands. I rarely meet people aany more who doubt otherwise and yet you would think, to read the papers and listen to the facade of civility that we are living in a truly civilized community rather than a bloody corrupt and mentally ill one.
If no one cares that police are out killing disabled people, homeless people and kids and feels that is what will make us “safe” then it is no wonder that a police chief who has been accused of rape hardly creates a ripple.
It would be nice to see a bit more concern for the lives of accused and victims in the paper and it would be nice if our justice system were even a little bit transparent I should be happy you are finding out how many angels will fit on the end of a pin…
the article clearly states that the accuser is Gunderson’s spouse, who also happens to work for the police force……….no one’s identity was protected………its a small world in Humboldt Co.
Protecting the accuser’s name presumes the accuser innocent.
Divulging the accused’s name in this situation, (unlike any other crime where there are no restrictions on reporting), presumes the accused to be guilty.
If that’s not wrong, your moral compass is broken. Separate your distaste for the police chief from the larger issue here.
According to booking documents, Gundersen was arrested on suspicion of violating California Penal Code 262 (a) (2), which it states is a rape of a spouse “where a person is prevented from resisting by any intoxicating or anesthetic substance, or any controlled substance, and this condition was known, or reasonably should have been known, by the accused
that’s from the ER
Holy Shit is right ! This should be interesting when more details, or facts, come out.
Seargeant Darcie Seal is the wife of Blue Lake Police Chief David R. Gundersen. She is a sworn police officer: filing a false report would end her career. Tell me the stakes aren’t high. And for such a high bail, there MUST be additional physical evidence.
Did the Chief give her some roofies before brutally loving her?
I guess time will tell.
Too bad he wasn’t removed from office a year ago after being accused by the Humboldt Country Grand Jury. But the elderly Judge Michael Brown said that Gundersen didn’t commit perjury then, it was just a problem checking a box.
Did Gundersen “body check” Darcie Seals “box”?
Judge Brown, Wes Keat, and Blue Lake Mayor Schapiro are 100% behind you Dave!!
The Grand Jury fired a warning shot at the City of Blue Lake which went unheeded.Where there is smoke there is usually fire.Now maybe the BL City council will get their heads out of the sand and make some changes that should of been done long ago.For one-Its is very bad policy to allow a person to be a direct supervisor of their spouse in the same dept.most public agencies will not allow it.
His bail is 10 times what they asked from the guy who tried to burn his girlfriend up in the house so they must have some pretty strong evidence.
I wonder if 90 to 100 uniformed and plain clothes cops will be loitering around the courthouse in “support” of him when he is arraigned like they did with Douglas and Zanotti.
Dangerous work, but hey that’s why we pay them.
What this string has in common with a lot of others is demonstrating the extent to which persons ignorant of the law and facts, often wilfully so, persistently insist they know what they are talking about.
Concur with Gene 11:33. Most public agencies prohibit a family member from being hired into a position where they report to another family member. How could anyone have possibly thought it was a good idea? Hope it doesn’t complicate the criminal case.
There’s a similar situation in San Francisco:
The only support soon-to-be-ex-Chief Gunderson will be getting is gonna be from his jail issued Fruit of the Looms.
Y’all are very wrong to assume that just because he’s in law enforcement that he’ll be blindly supported by others in uniform. Ain’t gonna happen. Hate to burst Tad and Noel’s bubbles.
Did you catch the name of the police commissioner in that SF Chron article? Is San Francisco Aliotoville?
the difference anon 12:00 PM is that Douglas and Zanotti did not commit a crime.
Oh so you are saying that Gundersen is guilty? I thought we were ALL innocent until proven guilty.
4:13 sez:
“Douglas and Zanotti did not commit a crime…”
“the difference anon 12:00 PM is that Douglas and Zanotti did not commit a crime.”
Word to Gunderson,nest time you want to rape someone,make sure that they are mentally ill and poor.
I thought ordering a hit was a crime
Douglas and Zanotti were both indicted for a crime.
Oh no! Both the victim and the perp are cops! Who to back? who to back? It’s enough to drive a boy in blue insane!
Peace be with you
If Pimbleton is right and Gunderson goes down it is only because of the cop on cop crime. If it had been one of the other people who Gunderson committed crimes against then it would be them charged with a crime not Gunderson. If at last a cop is held responsible for his actions then Pimbleton will again be right in that I may burst out the bubbly. (Can’t speak for Noel though)
love eternal
tad
Gene & Babushka:
My sister is a National Park superintendent. Her husband is a chief of maintenance. The National Park Service has a STRICT policy against spousal nepotism. They can’t work in the same park, (because he would report to her) which is really hard on their marriage at times. But the policy is in place for good reason. When I read that Gunderson and his wife were both employed by the Blue Lake Police Dept. I was dumbfounded.
Well, when gunderson was accused of racist threats and sexual abuse of a homeless black woman with kids, it was all but ignored by the local press, except the Humboldt Advocate and The Plazoid…
http://theplazoid.blogspot.com/2005/08/racist-attack-by-blue-lake-police.html
…sorry about not being able to hyperlink the story….
Anyhow, now that he raped a cop instead of a homeless black woman with kids, it is news.
Wonder how many others he got away with. Wonder how many others other pigs get away with. Wonder how many more we will allow to happen.
Interesting how the Eureka Reporter does not even mention the story.
If it had been some Mexican or Indian or poor person accused of rape rather than a police officer . there would have a a “JAPANESE ATTACK PEARL HARBOR!!!” sized headline.
It was in yesterday’s Eureka Reporter.
come on you Rubberneckers, a big hit is being handed to you on a silver platter! don’t piss this one away!
How about a little something like this:
Raped my wife in the … hot sun
I Fought the Law and the … law won
I Fought the Law and the … law won
I needed power, ’cause I … had none
I Fought the Law and the … law won
I Fought the Law and the … law won
I left my baby and I feel so bad
I guess my race is run
Well, she’s the best girl … I’ve ever had
I Fought the Law and the … law won
I Fought the Law and the … law won
If they would just pay more in Blue Lake they could recruit higher quality officers. At least that is the delivered wisdom in Eureka, the county seat.
How is it that the mayor of the tiny hamlet of Blue Lake doesn’t know where the police chief lives?
“Y’all are very wrong to assume that just because he’s in law enforcement that he’ll be blindly supported by others in uniform. Ain’t gonna happen. Hate to burst Tad and Noel’s bubbles.”
Suggesting that Tad and I are in a bubble if we think there is blind support for officers is suggesting that others do not share that opinion which is not true. Many people believe that police have gotten away with murder in a number of recent cases. The main difference seems to be that they were committed under color of law by on duty officers and obfuscation, intimidation and contrived evidence have been alleged by witnesses and independent investigators in those cases whereas this case involves off duty cops and, being in opposition to each other, there is no chance that one of them has not committed a crime.Tad and I are hardly alone in these views though maybe dumb to voice them as many have suggested.
The display of support by armed cops in uniform certainly does seem pretty skewed.
If they would just pay more in Blue Lake they could recruit higher quality officers. At least that is the delivered wisdom in Eureka, the county seat.
I know of young officers who have turned down jobs with the EPD because of this sordid business and not the low pay.
Apparently he lives in either Trinidad or McKinleyville, Heraldo. Is that close enough?
Apparently he does. You’d think the mayor would know.
Noel “knows of” young officers who have turned down jobs …. Sure. Cops are talking to Noel constantly about their career choices.
Peace be with you
I can tell anon has never been on a picket line.
love eternal
tad
After reading the biased and very ignorant rantings of people who are criminals themselves (you know who you are) really makes me sick and sad that you all are so jaded. You people need to look within yourselves, focus on becomming a better person.
One simple observation after reading these comments and seeing how people can not spell “Gundersen’s” name right only exhibits the fact that you people do not pay attention and only believe what you want to. SICK
Stop being ingnorant and speaking off the cuff. NO one has mentioned that Gundersen’s ex-wife is employeed by the Humboldt county Sheriff’s Office and her attorney is Mrs. Gallegos and they are currently in a custody battle, can you say hunting expidition? just like the Grand Jury. NO one has mentioned that his current wife is seeking to drop all charges, although it’s too late now, the DA is running with it now. There is alot more truths to this case, but the foolish ones who post comments and who will post comments don’t want to hear that.
truthgiver,
i mentioned a possible custody battle on the 9th post of this thread…..
But you failed to mention how his ex-wife is employeed at HCSO, interesting huh? there is more at work here, if you don’t know the facts please don’t pretend you do.
truthgiver, why do you suppose the bail is so high?
Check out the web, when Dave Gundersen was a Captain of the police in Adelento, California in 1996 he was arrested for a variety of crimes.
I’m sure glad Blue Lake snapped him up to be Chief, you never want good ones like him to get away.
Blue Lake Mayor Sherman Schapiro wants to assure everyone that he is behind the Chief 100% with the entire faith and credit of each and every Blue Lake taxpayer paying the full legal fees of Gundersen no matter how many people he raped.
HMMM, let’s see, it’s simple, with the custody battle and his ex-wife having alot of pull at HCSO a higher bail means he’s in longer and it draws alot more media/public attention. since a higher bail usually means he is in longer, it gives his ex-wife much more ammunition, plus it is used as a tactic to make everyone seem that there is more to this case as there really is, and that has been mentioned a few times in this thread. people, stop the ignorance please. only post if you have facts or can give an educated response.
or, a higher bail may mean the defendant is a recidivist.
Why did the news say she was a sergeant in the Blue Lake PD?
It has apparently not occurred to Truthgiver that a woman who was raped by her husband may want a divorce and would fight for custody of her children regardless of where she works. Don’t ya think?
Response to Anonymous 4:54
“Don’t ya think”? apparently you do not. Gundersen’s wife is not fighting for custody, his ex-wife is, pay attention genius. and stop listening to everything you read in the local, biased media. Maybe along your life someone has jumped to conclusions while looking at your life, maybe that’s why you do it in this case.
I will not subject myself to this complete disregard to the facts, you people are sad, have you ever been anywhere but Humboldt County? I would guess, NO.
The fact is you do not know the facts and history surrounding the ex-wife or the current wife, so please slow your unfounded opinions.
Then his EX wife doesn’t want a rapist raising her kids. Does it matter if it was his first wife or his second wife he raped? Get a fucking clue!
My point holds true…….you people are ignorant, believe everything at face value, boy won’t you feel like an idiot when you hear one of them is an alcoholic and the other one was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, how much weight do you give the story now?
I’d say get a clue to you, but you won’t, your response to this will show that, mark my words.
Truth giver – holy f’ing shit! If Joan Gallegos is his ex-wife’s lawyer and Gallegos runs with this against the current wife’s wishes, it is time not to have him step down, but to disbar him.
This is not the first time Mrs. Gallegos has used her husband to get after her clients’ enemies.
Oh and Fry’em – (and for that matter everyone else) a quick google and I found this link:
http://www.porac.org/ldf/articles/february%201%201998.html
This site says that evidently he was earlier falsely arrested for misguided political reasons, the DA refused to charge, the court declared him factually innocent of everything and he was paid a high settlement for the deprivation of his civil rights.
Man, this really stinks with the ex-wife and Mrs. Gallegos involvement.
But what really fries me is that the DA got his goons to go after Gundersent, knowing that whatever allegations were out there were withdrawn by his current wife. What – do you really think you can compel her to the stand? Really? You really think anyone did her any favors if she recanted by making this all public? Really?
This is just plain wrong on every front and every decent person should be outraged by all of it.
OMFG! Of course, anything someone with the ID Truthgiver says has to be 100% factual especially when supported by another anonymous ID. LOL
FINALLY SOMEONE GETS IT! BRAVO!
So his current wife filed rape charges and his ex-wife found out about it and now doesn’t want him to share custody? Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. The fact that the current wife wants to withdraw the charges makes me think she must be some sorta bimbo who doesn’t want him to pay the additional child support which will be required if he loses visitation.
How many people would allow a rapist to raise their children?
Peace be with you
“This is not the first time Mrs. Gallegos has used her husband to get after her clients’ enemies.”
Can you tell us when?
love eternal
tad
Good question Tad.
I’m also interested in the source of truthgiver’s knowledge and angst.
You seem to give this a lot of angry energy T’ man. Why is that?
To gladly answer your question, I have been a Humboldt County Resident for many years, I pay my taxes and work hard to provide for my family. You won’t see me feeding off Government programs, unlike many here in this county, my “angst” as you phrased it comes from the ignorance that abounds from people that burden the system of life. Am I against rape? of course, and immoral behavior for that fact. I also can not stand to hear from the select few that see issues only at face value. So research your rantings before you divulge them, please. So many like to wave the flag, but soo few are willing to keep it held up.
I must go to bed now for I have to WORK in the morning.
He might spell his alias t-r-u-t-h-g-i-v-e-r but it’s pronounced “roofie giver”
interesting reporting on the KMUD news tonight. Daniel Mintz covered Gallegos’ press conf. The DA alluded to computer evidence and the possibility of additional victims and crimes.
http://kmud.org/site001/program-schedule/302.html
It appears everyone posting here ( just like the news) are only speaking what they think to be true without weighing the facts that lie within. It’s sad to think people like you are out there providing childcare, practicing medicine, or most likely working at a fast food resturaunt for not only our children but for the humboldt county residents as well when all you can do is act like gossping high schoolers rather than doing something deserving of time. You people disgust me. Truthgiver obviously has good opinions pertaining to this case so before you draw uneducated conclusions you may want to give it some thought.
I think the discussion here has been a process of weighing the facts, what few we get, and trying to make sense of the situation in our community. Anyone who calls herself “truthgiver” has to be the greatest fool in a world where understanding the truth makes one humble. Working hard for money does not make you correct in your assumptions or superior to others; it makes you money. Be happy for that rather than bitter about what you imagine others are doing.
Folks like good old Dave always have child porn on their computer.
Arrested with probable cause for theft while a police officer in Adelanto, California, accused by a local grand jury of unlawful activity as chief, and now probable cause to arrest him again for rape and likely for additional felony charges.
Blue Lake May Sherman Schapiro is behind Blue Lake Police Chief David Ray Gundersen 100000000%. He will spend as many Blue Lake tax dollars as required to keep him the man on top.
Did Gundersen disclose his prior arrest as a police officer to Blue Lake May Sherman Schapiro before he was hired?
Oh My! Truthgiver has a non McWage job unlike the rest of us who blog between flipping those burgers. ORDER UP!
I am saddened that I am judged unworthy of cooking a hamburger for minimum wage. If that is so how will I “pull myself up by my own bootstraps?”
“It’s sad to think people like you are out there providing childcare, practicing medicine, or most likely working at a fast food resturaunt for not only our children but for the humboldt county residents as well “
There’s a Coalition For Police Review meeting on Wednesday night, word is they’ll be filing a police review initiative in Blue Lake on the heels of this scandal. No doubt Heraldo will be very lacking in his sudden interest in justice on that count, but some readers here still might be interested in some long-lasting accountability measures to come out of this heinous situation.
Everything by the book.
Gene Says:
February 10, 2008 at 11:33 am
The Grand Jury fired a warning shot at the City of Blue Lake which went unheeded.Where there is smoke there is usually fire.Now maybe the BL City council will get their heads out of the sand and make some changes that should of been done long ago.For one-Its is very bad policy to allow a person to be a direct supervisor of their spouse in the same dept.most public agencies will not allow it.
Answer: If the Blue Lake City Council has their heads in the sand, then who votes them into office? No disrespect intended, but you hit on the possible need for a change in elected officials for the City of Blue Lake.
Heraldo Says:
February 11, 2008 at 10:28 am
How is it that the mayor of the tiny hamlet of Blue Lake doesn’t know where the police chief lives?
Answer: It was not important enough, I suppose? Does a background check include your place of dwelling? If not, then would this not be a key question to find out after hiring, especially for emergency situations when a Chief is off duty and at home? Good question and hard to figure out an answer to. I wonder if the Mayor will be asked at the next Blue Lake City Council meeting?
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
I can believe the mayor isn’t sure where the Chief lives. Its not unusual for people in HumCo to live shadowy personal existences, vague about where they live and what they do off the clock. And they tend to move a lot and have several hideouts to avoid being pinpointed. So the tacit understanding is don’t ask and don’t tell.
Well, the DA is going over Gundersen’s computer now. Even if it turns out that criminal attorney Clanton threatens the rape victim and she recants, I betcha there will be evidence of enough new crimes on the computer that Gundersen still is going to have a hot time is weaseling out of this one.
Just a question, what if the alleged victim doesn’t “recant?” What if she didn’t report, but someone else has made these accusations? Why do all of this to her if it is not with her approval. None of you people have even thought about that possibility have you? In fact, humiliating her isn’t even a factor you will consider is it? You are so anti-cop that even the alleged victim can be thrown under to advance your hatred. If she reported this and wants him prosecuted, good for her and I hope he rots. If she didn’t and doesn’t, then shame on all of you. You are all monsters.
Frankly, looking at this fiasco only leaves me with the feeling that we have digressed 20 years or so in this county. As you hateful people keep spinning this to your own ends, I am left with impression that fewer people may now report these crimes because it doesn’t seem that the alleged victims rights are taken into consideration by anyone. Yeah, now she is damned if she does and damned if she doesn’t. This stupidity of how this was handled will probably force all of the players to move to another county – NO MATTER THE OUTCOME.
But as I say, that is really irrelevant to all of you, especially you Heraldo.
If the victim isn’t the one who reported it you would be right 11:22. But that doesn’t appear to be the case at this point.
I will wait and see, but from the TS article that I read and the video feed, it looks like the alleged victim may not have been the reporting party, said she didn’t want these charges and said other things to indicate all is not how it is being spun on this blog.
I will wait and see. What I want you all to think about is if you are wrong on this, what you have done to her!
You must have read a different article than I did then, 11:36. I read the defense attorney stating that, but the DA said the current wife was the reporting party. How would anyone else even know about it? They don’t issue arrest warrants because an ex-wife alleges rape against a current wife. Not even in Humboldt.
You are assuming an awful lot there 11:45. I won’t do that. And for what it is worth, if the alleged victim doesn’t want this, then the arrest shouldn’t have been made and she shouldn’t be forced into it. As I said before, if she does want it, then we all should support her. But, I would suggest going thru all of the articles and not simply one of them.
I will also be interested in seeing what was in that warrant.
The arraignment is today.
If she filed a police report that she was repeatedly raped then why would you support her by not pursuing charges? Either she lied and that should be prosecuted or she told the truth but now, for whatever reason (probably financial) wants to recant, doesn’t work. A rapist is a criminal who should be prosecuted and imprisoned to protect the rest of society. Surely you can understand this.
Most unlawful activity is never sanctioned. For fairness, a person charged with a crime is usually entitled to confront and interrogate the accuser. The State can take on the role when the victim can’t be present, but that requires substantial evidence of the crime.
Like other assault victims, a rapee has to give statements and often testify at trial. That’s a high hurdle for prosecutors’s to meet, so rapes often go unpunished. And that’s especially true when the parties have a personal relationship. Most simple battery goes unpunished, with the victim saying forgetaboutit and the cops warning the attacker that they’re under scrutiny.
The T-S has a big story on this case this morning and NOTHING in the ER.
Apparently this isn’t the first time he has been accused of drugging women for sex. His ex-wife made that claim years ago and now his current wife has reportedly experienced the same thing. Makes you wonder about any women he has had in his custody who wouldn’t be believed if they came forward. He sounds like the prototypical control freak cop.
Not a Native: you don’t have a rape case without a victim testifying or other witnesses to the event. There is really no way around that.
And it is against the law for the state to compel her to the stand.
Did anyone else notice how Judge Miles allowed the alleged rapist’s attorney to “speak for” the wife / alleged victim, instead of having her speak for herself (and under oath).
“Miles said she would take Clanton’s word for the intent of Gundersen’s wife’s statement…” (T-S)
So the judge is taking the defense attorney’s word as to what the statement of the victim would have been if she had made a statement?
Weird.
And the anti-Gallegos people are worried that the Gunderson is being persecuted and treated unfairly? Seems more like Gunderson’s being coddled by the court.
Also, his bail remains at $500,000, whereas the guidelines call for about $715,000? Gallegos apparently didn’t ask for bail to be increased. Again, that hardly sounds like Gunderson’s being singled out for harsh treatment either…
Peace be with you Lawn
Lawyers are “officers of the court,” so the Judge believes they can back up what they say at arraignment. If the lawyer misrepresents the truth then any thing from a trip to the bench to a full blown disbarment can happen. She didn’t OR him so that shows how much weight she put on the wife/victim declaration. I think this cop got caught. I just wonder how many of the “rumors” by non-police about this guy are true?
love eternal
tad
Great, since judges can be so very sure a defense lawyer would never misrepresent what their client’s alleged victim might say if that alleged victim were to be put on the stand, then we can all save time and avoid having any witnesses at all — we’ll just ask the defense attorney what their client’s alleged victim would say if asked, and just leave it at that. I don’t see any problem there, do you?
Something is terribly wrong in Blue Lake. And the fault does not lie with Gunderson and his wife. Blue Lake citizens have given up and somehow forgotten that the police, the City Council and the City Manager serve at our request. It has been apparent for a long time that Gunderson has a tainted past. When did we say it was o.k. for our standards to drop so low? Why would we allow Mr. Buck to hire Gunderson’s wife to work in the same dept? Why would we not continue to push to see all police logs make public? Why would we allow a City Council to sit silently by while Gunderson chalks up compliant after complaint ending in a Grand Jury investigation? It is time for a change of many levels in Blue Lake. Attend the City Council Mtg Feb 26th 7pm. Even if you do not share your thoughts, attendance is important. We do have the power to make a difference.
Let’s get some petitions going around to sign stating exactly that, especially at the upcoming meeting. If we all get them going, they will make a huge impact. What about leaving some around town anonymously for everyone to sign? Could be done in a few days and the meeting isn’t even until next week!!
For ALL uninformed American Citizens,
Please take a look at this! Freedom to fascism
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
Hey 10:41 am Good idea to get some petitions signed. Let’s get together and start this project. Want to meet at Stardough’s this weekend? Write it up and get it out into the community. I am willing to put in a few hours. Let me know how we can make contact?
“Meeting 2/26, 7pm” and “Blue Lake Brigade”:
It makes me so happy and hopeful to know that people such are yourselves are still willing to do more than just complain (like so many others), and actualy organize people to get together and do something about problems facing our community.
How did the meeting go? What’s the next step?
Keep me posted, at your leisure.
Thank You, PP
Just read about this and I’m pleased another bad cop gets his comeuppance. He was a bad cop here in Adelanto and when he left we made sure his record followed him. Apparently no one was interested. He was also arrested for possession of a sub machine gun with ammo. I’m a big believer in karma.