In Febuary 2008, while working on some unrememberable article at the park in Santee, CA, two Deputies come to visit me.

The result is Eddiecat.org, several law-suits, and a careful look at how the homeless are treated in this country.

While I could embed this video here, it would be better to go to the Google site to watch it, because in the comments section I have posted time-line links which help go to particular areas of the video. It is best to go to the Google page and let the video load all the way through, and then use the links or watch as your interest allows. I say all this, because for a good portion of the video I'm sitting silent and alone.

Here is the link

The time-line notes I've made are :
0:00 Deputy arrives on scene I turn on digital cameras as normal for any interview with police or officials of any kind.
01:19 Deputy Begins Interview
01:40 States I am trespassing
01:50 States it is not a public park
02:10 state I'm stealing electricity
02:23 states this park is not for my use
02:30 states I have to leave or I will be arrested and my property will be "taken"
02:45 tells me to stand up and put my hands behind my back. I ask if I am under arrest but he refuses to answer this question before attempting to handcuff and search me.

03:43 After allowing him to handcuff me "for his protection" I take a seat... most of this between here and the next part is silence to questions. At 4:13 I tell him I don't like being harassed and assaulted.

04:35 Begins to search my property without permission, but switches to haphazard search when I call him on it. I'm still not under arrest.

He calls for backup and I stay silent most of the time. I don't really have anything to say.

07:45 other deputy arrives, you can hear her in the background.

08:44 other deputy comes into view, talks a bit, says I can't be here, and can't use the electricity.

22:34 refuses to call City of Santee Community Services to see if use of the electricity is available to the public. Also refuses to hear or see anything that might disagree with her.

23:25 Deputy states that I am now under arrest for trespassing in a public park. And that I will leave or be taken into custody.

24:10 I ask to make it clear that I have to leave the public park due to trespassing and that I'm going to be cited for trespassing.

25:19 I tell them that I have written and verbal permission from Community Services for use of the electricity.

30:45 Other deputy interviews, asserting that I am not working, that I "set up camp", ignoring anything I say otherwise, or the laptop or any other evidence.

31:55 Other deputy states I have to leave the park.

33:45 Citation is given for Illegal Lodging and Theft of Services rather than Trespassing.

35:25 I move cameras to the top of Eddie's cart in full view of both deputies.

36:37 I make sure that both deputies heard me say I had verbal and written permission for the use of the electricity in the park from City of Santee Community Services.

37:15 I make it clear that I checked with the "City of Santee Community Services"

38:27 I play them the recorded voice conversation withe City of Santee Community Services using my laptop.

39:57 Highlight comment that during the recorded conversation with Santee Community Services I made it clear that I was a Private Citizen and not asking as part of the Softball league, and both Deputies exhibit understanding of that part.

41:05 Deputy states that the recorded conversation is invalid because I am "a homeless person" and a "transient" when clearly the permission is stated as to "any one using the park", not me specifically.

41:15 Deputy states that in the city of Santee the homeless do not have the right to use public facilities.

Not sure if anything after this point has any relevance at all. it is just me getting my stuff together as quickly as I can and BS conversation with the deputies.

And here is the MP3 of the phone conversation I had with Santee Community Services.



Things to note in this conversation. I didn't say who I was, or what I was going to use the outlets for, except for "stuff". She didn't give guidelines, or say "I" specifically was allowed to use them on a particular day, but rather it was a general "you are welcome to use them".

The "Letterhead" I refer to is the email I got from Santee Community Services, from their office from their URL, which as far as the courts are concerned, is legal letter head communication.
though there are some things that need to be done to insure the authenticity of the emails (which is why I'm not posting it here until I get the ok from my lawyer).

This morning I saw one of the deputies from yesterday and he said that he called the City of Santee and they said I didn't have permission... which I thought was bazaar ... but after some thought I don't really care if he was lying or not. If he is lying, then the false arrest is still on him; if he isn't then the city is liable for discrimination, because I never asked for personal permission, I always asked if the service was available for use by park visitors in general, and was always given a "general use permission" reply from the office. So if they are now saying that everyone can use it "but me" or "except the homeless" then that is discrimination.

I'm not really interested in the electricity thing, except to get the citation dismissed. I'm concerned with the homeless law, and the homeless discrimination regarding use of public parks and areas.