Bonus: Hermosa Beach public urination case incident transcript
The story on the two Hermosa Beach residents who went to trial on a public urination citation is getting a lot of comments (big surprise) from our readers - most of who think the pair were in the wrong. Yes, they were convicted, but some of the issues they raised were very legitimate, including the lack of "evidence" of such urination. No pictures of the puddle, no witness statements from any of the passers-by and not indication that either Mark Weber or Mario De Obregoso were untucked, unzipped or exposed. They mentioned to me that the jury was mostly senior citizens, which studies show tend to be more conservative and trusting of police officers.
I wasn't there. I'm just sayin'.
Some of the commenters chastised me for reporting what they believe is a non-story. I felt that a week-long trial at tax-payers expense (no matter whose at fault for getting it to that point) plus the city's efforts to clean-up it's image was worthy of coverage. I'm curious, what do you think? You can respond in the comments section below.
For those of you wanting to know more, I've attached a transcript of the conversation between the two and the police officers:
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About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
E-mail Larry at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com.
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About the Blogger
Denise Nix knew as young as grade school, when she spent every summer working on the camp newspaper, that she wanted to be a journalist. Denise has spent most of the last 12 years of her career in the courtroom. She joined the Daily Breeze in 2001, where she tracks and reports on hundreds of cases at every level of the justice system. And she's never, ever, seen a judge use a gavel.
E-mail Denise at denise.nix@dailybreeze.com.
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Denise,
You say most, I find it interesting that it is nearly unanimous. Maybe two of 76 think otherwise. Not to mention the 12 jurors who listened to all the "evidence" and came back in two hours with a verdict of Guilty, don't disrespect their efforts. Just my thoughts as you asked.
Good pinch skipper, we're all very proud of you.
What 76 people are you refering to Chief Savelli? Did you take a personal survey? There was no evidence! It was the word of one egocentric napoleonic officer against my own. Officer Phillips said "He never makes mistakes"! Yet under oath he mistestified that there was "NO WATER" in the area in which we were standing, when in fact there was and are many sprinklers and puddles of water in that area on a nightly basis! He also mistestified as to the clothes we were wearing that night and where we were standing! But he claims he remembers perfectly and could see me perfectly urinating from 50 yards away, with street traffic, and in the dark!!!!! He testified that there were many pedestrians walking by at the time but he couldn't produce 1 witness!!!!!! He didn't even take the statement of 1 witness!! Let me ask you, is it the Hermosa Beach Police Department policy to cite and convict people without 1 ounce of evidence? Is it your policy to back up officers who lie under oath in court? Officer Phillips lied in court and I was convicted without any proof or evidence of wrongdoing. Do you even live in Hermosa Beach Chief Savelli? I invest over over $9,000.00 a month into this community on rent, food, and entertainment! Do you think it's right to convict me of a crime in which the DA produced no evidence what so ever?? Is that proper policy? I think i'm going to appeal this case just based on principal. Officer Phillips can come in and lie again to the Appeals Court as i'm sure that will make you proud of your department.
So Mark, Tell us Did you or Did you not Urinate ?
How did you testify under oath?