I have met Francine Busby. Nice woman. Shari Barman is a very repected member of the San Diego tennis community - very supportive of women's tennis and athletics in general. I hope to Jeebus someone got this on video, because it had to look hilarious even though it was probably frightening at the time.
Hostess at fundraiser for Busby is arrestedENCINITAS — A fundraiser for Francine Busby, who is running for Congress, ended in chaos Friday night when sheriff's deputies responded to a noise complaint, pepper-sprayed some of the guests and arrested the party's hostess. Shari Barman, 60, was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on suspicion of obstructing a peace officer and battery on a peace officer. She has since been released. A court appearance has been set for Aug. 11 in Vista Superior Court.
The catered affair, which included valet parking, was to support Busby's bid in 2010. The minimum suggested donation was $50. Busby, who spoke at the private reception, said the event was “no different” from hundreds of parties and fundraisers that she has attended – except in how it degenerated at the end.
“I have never seen anything like it. Most of the people were stunned,” Busby said, adding that there was no music or entertainment.
Busby said she doesn't think the incident will have any political fallout, and she pledged to continue campaigning at house parties. “I will do everything I can to make sure it doesn't happen again,” she said.
Deputies first went to the Cardiff home on Rubenstein Avenue at 9 p.m. to issue a warning after a neighbor called and complained about the loud party, sheriff's Sgt. Chuck Yancey said. He said deputies returned later when the party hadn't quieted down, and one deputy asked for Barman's date of birth so he could file paperwork alerting the city to the noise complaints.
Sheriff's officials said Barman refused to give the deputy the information, and that's when things got out of control. A crowd of about 30 to 50 partygoers surrounded Barman when he tried to arrest her, and they were able to separate her from the deputy, Yancey said.
Pepper spray was dispersed on the crowd, and the deputies were able to reach her again. At one point, a person refused to let go of Barman's leg so the deputy could take her away. Barman also allegedly punched the deputy, Yancey said.
Barman said she would issue a statement today but had nothing further to say yesterday.
A statement from Busby's office said a man shouted an “obscenity-laced tirade” from a wooded area as Busby spoke to the guests. It said about 25 mostly middle-aged guests – a lower estimate than the deputies' – were “quietly chatting” when a deputy arrived and asked to speak to the homeowner. Busby said she was outside the house at the time of the incident and saw some of it unfold.
“When the homeowner asked the deputy sheriff why he needed her date of birth, the deputy reacted by restraining the homeowner,” said Busby's statement. “Alarmed guests pleaded with the deputy to let the 60-year-old homeowner go and stop hurting her. She had recently had shoulder surgery and was clearly in pain. His response was to spray the women with pepper spray which caused confusion and outrage.”
A second woman was also taken into custody during the melee. She was cited and released. The event had been highlighted on Busby's campaign Web site as an evening cocktail party hosted by Barman and her partner, Jane Stratton, who co-founded the Acura Classic tennis tournament in San Diego.
A sheriff's spokeswoman said last night that she did not know the name of the deputy involved, the charges against the second woman or whether the department planned to investigate. Holey moley! :wtf:
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jun/28/1m28busby005526-hostess-fundraiser-busby-arrested/?northcounty&zIndex=123783
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