The hearing on whether the temporary restraining order against Arcata City Councilmember Brett Watson should be made permanent was scheduled for this afternoon. After Arcata Police Chief Brian Ahearn served Watson with the temporary restraining order and filed a proof of service. Watson was arrested after that for PC 273.6 (a) violating a court order for ccing Arcata Mayor Karen Diemer in a group email sent by a constituent.
Retired Judge Dale Reinholtsen was filling in for Judge Timothy Canning today. City of Arcata's attorney Mr. Thomas M. O'Connell and Watson's attorney, Mr. Jay Jambeck spoke privately a few times the hearing was reset.
Both parties agreed to a continuance to December 12 because City of Arcata wants Judge Canning to preside over the hearing. Judge Canning issued the TRO. That temporary order is in effect until the next hearing.
"People are here, ready to testify but are scared," Mr.O'Connell told Judge Reinholtsen. "We do want Judge Canning to hear this so it won't be in front of you, your honor."
Mr. O'Connell is from San Diego. He was here with an associate. Mr. Jambeck is from San Francisco.
Mr. O'Connell gave a time estimate of an hour and 30 minutes for the City of Arcata portion of evidence. In addition to the five declarations, there are 35 exhibits. Mr. Jambeck gave a time estimate of an hour. Three hours have been allotted for this hearing.
The date was based on when Judge Canning returns and availability of all parties.
There was an agreement and Watson consented to a search for additional firearms. City of Arcata is calling Arcata Police Department. Chief Brian Ahearn and Watson is on his way home now.
There maybe no additional firearms. Watson already turned in three firearms to APD. The search is City of Arcata's request based on a statement Watson made that there are maybe additional firearms because there a lot of belongings at his house.
After the hearing, I spoke with Watson. APD Chief Brian Ahearn did show up with an officer but he did not do the search today. He told Watson they are short staffed today. Chief Ahearn told Watson he needs 4 to 6 officers and will have to come back to do the search.
Watson told me he volunteered to turn in firearms in the last week of May 2022. This is months before the request for the temporary restraining order. APD told him that it was up to him.
Watson said he has not seen three pistols which are family heirlooms for a while. Two do not work. He filed a police report that they were stolen.
Arcata City Manager Karen Diemer alleges Watson sexually harassed her in her declaration for TRO.
All the exclusive details about why he was arrested and court documents were reported on this blog in prior coverage. I was also the only one and the first to report that Watson had hired San Francisco attorney Mr. Jay Jambeck.
Also linked below are posts on Watson's DUI case which was dismissed in September.
After court when I went up to Mr. O'Connell, he asked,"Are you John Chiv? I probably know you better than you know me." That added some levity because it was very tense in court.
The attorneys were professional. Watson kept to himself today. City of Arcata attorney Nancy Diamond, Diemer and others were the ones more silent and awkward.
I had already introduced myself to Mr. Jambeck prior to the court hearing.
Just this morning, I heard from a nice reader from Orange County about a Humboldt specific post. This is a daily reader who complimented me on my good knowledge of the community.
Previous and related posts:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/10/please-remove-brett-from-reply-as-i.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/10/apd-arrests-brett-watson-for-ccing.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/10/lets-see-if-city-of-arcata-brett-watson.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/10/who-do-you-trust-city-of-arcatas-or.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/10/i-just-turned-down-ad-so-i-can-continue.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/10/karen-diemer-alleges-brett-watson.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/10/brett-watson-hires-san-francisco.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/09/brett-watsons-dui-case-has-been.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-minimum-action-arcata-city-council.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/04/wondering-what-happened-with-brett.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/01/what-will-brett-watsons-excuse-be-for.html?m=1#more
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/09/arcata-mayor-brett-watson-hires-patrik.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/09/cocaine-and-alcohol-is-brett-watson-is.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/09/brett-watson-charged-with-bac-of15-or.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/08/i-read-about-his-arrest-and-it-pissed.html?m=1#more
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-look-when-chp-officer-chris.html?m=1
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