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Santa Barbara County

Sheriff Council head charged with battery

Written by Administrator
Thursday, 27 October 2005
[b]Sheriff Council head charged with battery[/b] 10/27/05 By DAWN HOBBS NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER Fracas at headquarters involving prominent fundraisers went unreported until FBI passed a tip on to DA's Office The president of the high-profile Sheriff's Council has been accused of battery against another leader of the nonprofit group in an angry confrontation in front of Sheriff Jim Anderson, the News-Press has learned. James Towle, a prominent Montecito philanthropist, is accused of attacking Chris Edgecomb, a well-known high-tech entrepreneur, and pushing him to the ground in a conference room at sheriff's headquarters, according to a report obtained by the News-Press. A sheriff's commander and sergeant intervened and pulled Mr. Towle off Mr. Edgecomb, the sheriff's report states. Sheriff Anderson did not arrest Mr. Towle despite Mr. Edgecomb's repeated requests, according to the report. The Nov. 18, 2004, confrontation didn't come to light until March -- only after someone tipped the FBI and a federal agent reported the incident to the District Attorney's Office, law enforcement sources said. That office filed misdemeanor charges of battery and disturbing the peace against Mr. Towle on Sept. 27. Mr. Towle is scheduled to be arraigned next week. He could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. The fracas shines a light on the Sheriff's Council, which raises millions each year to help out the department with equipment such as bulletproof vests and video units for patrol cars. Last month, the group announced that it raised $2.4 million at a bash at Bacara Resort & Spa. In the days following the 2004 encounter, racing legend Andy Granatelli, the leading council fundraiser, suggested that Mr. Edgecomb drop the matter, according to law enforcement sources. Mr. Edgecomb agreed not to press charges with the understanding that Mr. Towle, who was a significant contributor, would resign from the council, the sources said. On Wednesday, Mr. Granatelli said in an interview that he had called Mr. Edgecomb after the incident to "calm him down" and explain there was no need to file charges because "it was no big deal." Mr. Granatelli said: "This whole thing is a tempest in a teapot. You'll find out it's an entirely different story when this all comes out in court. . . . It was just a minor matter. He wasn't hurt. There was no damage except maybe to his pride. "Boys will be boys," he said. On Wednesday, Mr. Edgecomb declined to discuss the details of the alleged battery. "Mr. Towle and I worked together for two years raising millions and this unfortunate incident lasted 20 minutes. It's regrettable," Mr. Edgecomb said. He acknowledged that Mr. Granatelli had called about the matter, but declined to discuss the substance of their conversations. "I hold Mr. Granatelli in deep regard as a dear friend and as someone who has done a lot for our community and the council," he said. Both Mr. Granatelli and Mr. Edgecomb told the News-Press on Wednesday that they are worried that negative coverage about the Sheriff's Council could hurt its fundraising efforts. Mr. Granatelli helped found the Sheriff's Council in 1993 and is seen as the person most responsible for its growing contributions. He threatened to quit the council if the sheriff did not reinstate Mr. Towle, sources said. However, Mr. Granatelli said in the interview that he wanted Mr. Towle to be president but did not threaten to quit. "I didn't tell the sheriff, 'Do this or it's all over for you,' " he said. Mr. Towle was reinstated and agreed to serve a short-term probation before resuming his position as president, sources said. Sheriff's Cmdr. Jeff Meyer, who witnessed the alleged battery, wrote an official report about the 2004 incident, but it was not forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for review. That office got involved and filed charges only after the tip from the FBI, sources said. Two weeks after the charges were filed, Mr. Granatelli stepped down from his position as Sheriff's Council chairman. He said in the interview that his resignation was not linked to the fracas or to the decision to file charges. He said he simply wanted to spend more time with his family. Mr. Edgecomb's decision about whether to pursue charges after the alleged attack was a difficult one, according to the sheriff's report. During the incident and the next day, he said many times that he wanted charges filed against Mr. Towle, the report states. "Mr. Edgecomb went on to say that after thinking about the incident overnight, he became concerned for his family's welfare," the report states. "He believes that if Mr. Towle could conduct himself in such a violent manner inside the Sheriff's Department Headquarters, and in front of the Sheriff, there was no telling what he might do absent such scrutiny." However, five days later, Mr. Edgecomb was reconsidering whether to request criminal prosecution and on Dec. 6, 2004, had decided against it, the report states. Sheriff Anderson submitted a four-paragraph statement to Cmdr. Meyer for the report, in which he gave the following account: "I attempted to keep both separated and calm to discuss this incident, however, Towle reached around and pushed Edgecomb. Edgecomb fell to the floor, striking a nearby chair and causing his glasses to fall off. Edgecomb did not sustain a serious injury as a result of the push." In response to News-Press requests to speak to Sheriff Anderson, he issued a statement through his public information officer, Sgt. Erik Raney: "It's an unfortunate incident. The alleged victim in this case did not want to follow through with prosecution; therefore, we documented the incident as we would any other similar incident. This incident happened approximately a year ago and there have been no similar incidents since then." Sgt. Raney added that the sheriff, who oversees the council and approves its members, took administrative action against Mr. Towle. Sgt. Raney would not elaborate because he said it was a confidential council personnel matter. Assistant District Attorney Patrick McKinley confirmed that Cmdr. Meyer's report was never sent to his office. He declined to identify the source of the information that prompted his office to seek the report. "We heard about it four months later and got a hold of the sheriff's report ourselves," Mr. McKinley said. "Then we made the decision to investigate the matter. We talked to all of the relevant players in the case and decided to file the charges." Sheriff Anderson and Mr. Granatelli are not under investigation, Mr. McKinley said. He declined to comment further. The sheriff's report obtained by the News-Press offers a detailed account of the confrontation. It apparently began as an argument between Mr. Towle, 59, incoming president of the council, and Mr. Edgecomb, 45, the outgoing president, about an e-mail concerning an open council position, Cmdr. Meyer wrote in the sheriff's report. Mr. Towle and Mr. Edgecomb, who had arrived early for a council meeting, were in the department's executive conference room. Cmdr. Meyer noted in the report dated Dec. 15, 2004, that Mr. Edgecomb told him Mr. Towle became "visibly angry (about the e-mail) and said words to the effect of, 'If you ever insult me again, I will tear your head off.' " Mr. Towle forcefully poked his fingers into Mr. Edgecomb's chest, the document states. Mr. Edgecomb told the commander he thought Mr. Towle was trying to bait him into a fight. "Mr. Edgecomb said he went around the conference table, and left the room in an effort to get away from Mr. Towle," the report states. "As he left the room, he heard Mr. Towle state, 'Go get your mommy.' " Mr. Edgecomb found Sheriff Anderson in his office and told him Mr. Towle had assaulted him, the document states. "Mr. Edgecomb said that James Towle had followed him down the hallway and when Mr. Towle saw him talking to the sheriff, Mr. Towle said, 'You went and told Daddy,' " the report states. Sheriff Anderson brought them back into the conference room in an attempt to mediate, the document states. Even with the sheriff in the room, Mr. Towle poked at Mr. Edgecomb's chest several times and called him derogatory names, according to the report. "At this point, according to Mr. Edgecomb, Mr. Towle came up and reached past Sheriff Anderson and struck him (Edgecomb) in the middle of his chest with the heel of his hand," the report states. "The blow knocked Mr. Edgecomb off balance. Mr. Edgecomb stated he tripped over several chairs . . . and fell to the ground." This is when Cmdr. Meyer and Sgt. Kelly Moore, who heard the commotion, rushed into the room and saw Mr. Edgecomb on the floor and Sheriff Anderson between the two men, the report states. "I heard Mr. Edgecomb state, 'Get an officer,' " Cmdr. Meyer wrote in the report. The commander noted that Mr. Edgecomb said several times that he wanted Mr. Towle arrested. Mr. Towle continued the alleged assault, yelling: "Let's settle this like men," the report states. Mr. Edgecomb told the commander that he was dazed when he got up, but remembers Mr. Towle making additional attempts to get to him, the document states. Cmdr. Meyer wrote in the report that he had to grab Mr. Towle from behind, pull him away from Mr. Edgecomb and then push him to the other side of the room, while Mr. Towle repeatedly yelled threats. Source: http://news.newspress.com/toplocal/102705sheriff.htm

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