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Campaign Event Turns Ugly

A campaign fund-raiser for Francine Busby, a Democrat seeking the California's 50th congressional district seat in 2010, ended with two arrests, bruises and a cloud of pepper spray.


A campaign fund-raiser thrown by a lesbian couple for Francine Busby, a Democrat seeking California's 50th congressional district seat in 2010, ended with two arrests, bruises, and a cloud of pepper spray.

Busby is now demanding an explanation from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, which broke up the fund-raiser, arrested the host, and responded to a noise complaint with questionable force.

Shari Barman, 60, hosted the event at her home with her partner, Jane Stratton, in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Calif. Busby described the event as a "quiet home reception" with a half-hour period during which Busby used a microphone to address the gathering.

However, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that at 9:33 p.m., local police received a call from a man alleging that someone was still using the a megaphone, and that crowd noise was keeping him awake.

The Union-Tribune also reported that while Busby spoke, a man shouted "disparaging remarks" regarding Busby and LGBT people from the property behind Barman's home. Neighbors from three sides of the home had no complaints, including one man who slept through it.

An officer reportedly said he felt threatened while responding to the call. After Barman refused to give the officer her birth date and walked away from him, she was placed under arrest for suspicion of battery on a police officer and resisting, delaying and obstructing a peace officer. Barman said in a statement that the officer forced her to the ground and twisted her arm in the process.

Stratton told the Union-Tribune that she was knocked to the ground after she warned the officer of Barman's recent shoulder surgery.

Seven deputies, a sergeant, and a helicopter were dispatched to control a crowd of 30 to 50 middle-aged people.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Reinhard Gehlen
    Date posted: 7/2/2009 2:07:00 PM
    Hometown: Toronto

    Comment:

    One (1) Canadian Mounted Policeman greeted the Sioux after the Custer massacre. He was respected for being a brave man. I can't understand the gutless, useless and senseless things we put in uniform today, but I guess Pampers will always be there for them. It's also a little bit funny how maybe the amendments to the constitution probably had little meaning to some of these people before they met Officer Tackleberry. Remember in a police state only the police and the military should have guns and pepper spray.

  • Name: Joe Reid
    Date posted: 7/2/2009 1:00:00 AM
    Hometown: San Diego, CA

    Comment:

    Having lived in Washington, DC and Los Angeles, CA I find that San Diego is VERY homophobic and closeted. I'm not sure if it's the strong police presence due to proximity to the Mexican border, the large number and size of military installations that dot the county, or the spill over of hate from Orange County to the North. Regardless, god bless this woman for running for office in the North County. I hope the police are held accountable, and she wins the election!

  • Name: Cindy
    Date posted: 7/1/2009 6:40:00 PM
    Hometown: San Diego

    Comment:

    I attended this fundraiser and it was very mellow. When we came in you could not even hear it at the front door and we left at 9:31 (minutes before the deputy arrived) and you could not hear anything again at all. This officer was so out of control everyone around here is shocked this could happen in America.

  • Name: Felipe
    Date posted: 7/1/2009 3:57:00 AM
    Hometown: San Diego

    Comment:

    Wow, f-ing San Diego. Why does this not surprise me??

  • Name: Brad Bailey
    Date posted: 7/1/2009 3:40:00 AM
    Hometown: Fayetteville, Arkansas

    Comment:

    I refer everyone reading this thread to an earlier article, "Florida NBC Affiliate Airs Antigay Special," where PJR makes his views on "gay issues" poignantly clear.

  • Name: Brad Bailey
    Date posted: 7/1/2009 3:35:00 AM
    Hometown: Fayetteville, Arkansas

    Comment:

    Yes, that's right PJR. Why don't you enlighten all the good folks here with your views on "gay issues." Particularly the one that says gays choose their sexual orientation. Or the one that Christianist reparative therapy "cures" homosexuality. Go on, PJR. Tell them.

  • Name: jonboy
    Date posted: 7/1/2009 2:29:00 AM
    Hometown: Winner

    Comment:

    Nazi's

  • Name: DeltaSigChi4
    Date posted: 7/1/2009 12:52:00 AM
    Hometown: Las Vegas

    Comment:

    These were not cops. Cops actually serve and protect, having the interest of the community in mind while serving; these are actually PIGS. Vile human beings who have no business wearing the badge. Cowards. E

  • Name: Lickety Splitz
    Date posted: 7/1/2009 12:50:00 AM
    Hometown: Lez Not Go There

    Comment:

    Look, some lesbians are huge and are big sourpusses. Sometimes you need a strong pimp hand.

  • Name: PJR
    Date posted: 6/30/2009 11:21:00 PM
    Hometown: Michigan

    Comment:

    The cop felt threatened by a 60 year old woman? He had to take her to the ground over a noise complaint at a party for middle agers?? Somebody needs to fire that cop! But fellas, this don't sound like it's anti gay, just more police power issues. This happens to all communities all the time. Frankly, these police nationwide are just out of control with everyone! It's the training! It's all wrong. It's based on this absurd command voice control and the person responding as told immediately, or that police license to move on to the physical tactics to "control". That ain't reality, and only ratchets things up! Fire him, but lets not make some stupid gay issue out of it. That's akin to Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson ambulance chasing Michael Jackson's death to say any coverage about pedophilia is racist based! Sometimes, things just don't apply!



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