Following a contentious courtroom session Monday, a hearing to lift two restraining orders the city of Calexico filed against a man accused of threatening city employees was continued.
Oscar Gonzales, 64, who represented himself in the civil matter, is expected back in court Jan. 30 but Imperial County Superior Court Referee Richard Bohlander ordered that the pair of restraining orders “stay,” or remain, in place.
In addition to staying away from Administrative Assistant Celestina “Sally” Hernandez and Public Works Director Nick Servin, and comply with a host of other restrictions, the temporary restraining orders also bar Gonzales from entering the employees’ workplace, which is Calexico City Hall.
Bohlander’s ruling, in effect, prohibits Gonzales from attending tonight’s Calexico City Council meeting where Councilman Luis Castro is expected to try winning back the mayoral position the council voted to strip him of Jan. 10. Gonzales is a known Castro supporter.
Much of what was discussed — and strenuously argued — during the hearing that ran for more than 2 1/2 hours dealt with Gonzales’ Dec. 20 conduct when he first wanted to view a 300-page agenda packet for a council meeting and then demanded in a belligerent fashion to speak with the mayor, according to court records.
Tensions flared when Gonzales allegedly became enraged that day when told he couldn’t use a city phone and at some point reached over a counter and “looked as if he would grab the phone or stapler and throw it” at Hernandez, the court record reported.
Calexico police arrested Gonzales on Dec. 20 on suspicion of disturbing the peace and allegedly threatening Servin. Calexico Police Chief Jim Neujahr said Gonzales had done so when he left a threatening message on Servin’s work phone while Gonzales was being processed at the county jail.
A recording of the message was played back in court. Gonzales was arrested a second time Jan. 10 when he violated the terms of the restraining orders by showing up for a Calexico City Council meeting, Neujahr said.
Gonzales’ line of questioning appeared to wear thin on Bohlander, who repeatedly questioned Gonzales about the relevance of asking a series of witnesses — which included Calexico City Manager Oscar Rodriguez — about how long they knew him, his reputation and by what standard some of them use to conclude when someone is acting belligerently. Bohlander said the questions were not specific to the events of Dec. 20.
One highlight of the hearing came when Gonzales called on witness Marlene Thomas, who told the court that even though she never saw him do anything physical to anything, Gonzales suffers from “diarrhea of the mouth.”
“He just talks,” Thomas said. “Sometimes he can’t control his mouth.”
Staff Writer Silvio J. Panta can be reached at 760-337-3442 or at spanta@ivpressonline.com
Oscar Gonzales, 64, who represented himself in the civil matter, is expected back in court Jan. 30 but Imperial County Superior Court Referee Richard Bohlander ordered that the pair of restraining orders “stay,” or remain, in place.
In addition to staying away from Administrative Assistant Celestina “Sally” Hernandez and Public Works Director Nick Servin, and comply with a host of other restrictions, the temporary restraining orders also bar Gonzales from entering the employees’ workplace, which is Calexico City Hall.
Bohlander’s ruling, in effect, prohibits Gonzales from attending tonight’s Calexico City Council meeting where Councilman Luis Castro is expected to try winning back the mayoral position the council voted to strip him of Jan. 10. Gonzales is a known Castro supporter.
Much of what was discussed — and strenuously argued — during the hearing that ran for more than 2 1/2 hours dealt with Gonzales’ Dec. 20 conduct when he first wanted to view a 300-page agenda packet for a council meeting and then demanded in a belligerent fashion to speak with the mayor, according to court records.
Tensions flared when Gonzales allegedly became enraged that day when told he couldn’t use a city phone and at some point reached over a counter and “looked as if he would grab the phone or stapler and throw it” at Hernandez, the court record reported.
Calexico police arrested Gonzales on Dec. 20 on suspicion of disturbing the peace and allegedly threatening Servin. Calexico Police Chief Jim Neujahr said Gonzales had done so when he left a threatening message on Servin’s work phone while Gonzales was being processed at the county jail.
A recording of the message was played back in court. Gonzales was arrested a second time Jan. 10 when he violated the terms of the restraining orders by showing up for a Calexico City Council meeting, Neujahr said.
Gonzales’ line of questioning appeared to wear thin on Bohlander, who repeatedly questioned Gonzales about the relevance of asking a series of witnesses — which included Calexico City Manager Oscar Rodriguez — about how long they knew him, his reputation and by what standard some of them use to conclude when someone is acting belligerently. Bohlander said the questions were not specific to the events of Dec. 20.
One highlight of the hearing came when Gonzales called on witness Marlene Thomas, who told the court that even though she never saw him do anything physical to anything, Gonzales suffers from “diarrhea of the mouth.”
“He just talks,” Thomas said. “Sometimes he can’t control his mouth.”
Staff Writer Silvio J. Panta can be reached at 760-337-3442 or at spanta@ivpressonline.com
