An Encinitas, California, fundraiser for Democratic Congressional candidate Francine Busby had some unexpected guests last Friday night.
During her speech to the guests, a male voice from another residence made a disparaging remark about Busby and gays. Later, someone outside the party yelled obscenities in the party’s direction.
Around 9:30 P.M., two sheriff deputies appeared and entered the house without knocking. The deputy questioned the owner of the house, and she uttered an obscenity about a neighbor. When the deputy said he was going to issue a citation, he asked for the birthdate of the homeowner. She refused to give it. That led to a situation slipping out of control as guests tried to pull the homeowner away from the deputy and the deputy tussled with other guests. Eventually, seven guests were pepper sprayed and two arrested for resisting arrest, among other charges.
The deputy called for backups as six more deputies and a sergeant responded. A fire truck also ended up parked outside and a helicopter circled above. All for a complaint that the party was making too much noise. The local noise ordinance does not even come into effect until 10:00 P.M.
Busby called the encounter “hateful intimidation” inspired by a “politically motivated phone call. The Sheriff has begun an investigation of the incident.
