Dennis Baxter has police over to the house

By Robert Rogers
Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO -- 2nd Ward City Councilman Dennis Baxter is known to constituents and colleagues as a slight man with a silvery radio voice and an unshakable calm.

"I don't see Dennis as a man with a temper," said 7th Ward Councilwoman Wendy McCammack.

But on Tuesday, the situation at his 17th Street home got hot enough to draw, by Baxter's count, at least five police officers and nearly lead to councilman's arrest.
San Bernardino Police responded to a 9-1-1 call at 6:33 p.m. Tuesday. The call was made by Crista Wentworth, a 52-year-old who had been living with the councilman since December.

Wentworth initially accused Baxter battery, police said, but later declined to press charges.

"Due to the reluctance of the victim to press charges an arrest was not made," wrote Capt. Ernie Lemos in a release.

In an interview Wednesday morning, Baxter, 58, told a tale of altruism and friendship gone awry.

"No good deed goes unpunished," Baxter said.

Baxter said he met Wentworth a few years ago through a neighborhood association. He said Wentworth, a county employee, was hit with a stroke and a brain aneurism in October and found herself homeless and unable to work.

"I said you can stay with me, in my back office recording studio," Baxter said.

Baxter said things went smooth for a few months, although Wentworth's early-to-bed schedule interfered with his work.

Baxter, who is divorced with one adult daughter, stressed that the relationship was "totally Platonic."

"I was just being a good samaritan, really," he said.

Baxter said he began broaching the idea of Wentworth leaving in June.

"I was looking for an exit strategy," Baxter said.

Then came Tuesday night. Baxter said he took Wentworth to dinner at Marie Calendar's and broke the news that she would have to go.

When they returned home, Baxter said, Wentworth became verbally abusive.
"I said I think you need to leave my home, please," Baxter said.

Baxter said Wentworth at that point called him names, went into the room she'd been living in and phoned police. Baxter said he went out front to wait for them.

"If she wasn't going to call them, I was," Baxter said, adding there was "no physical altercation at all."

Wentworth, who could not be reached for comment, left that night.

On Wednesday morning, with Baxter at work as director of news and public affairs at radio station KCAA, she returned to pick up some light belongings.

Police were also at the house, the locks to which Baxter had already had changed. McCammack went to the house to help Baxter by watching over the process.

"She's a woman with issues to deal with," McCammack said. "In listening to her description to officers, it sounded like a fight, non-physical."

Police say they will refer their information to the San Bernardino County District Attorney for review.

Baxter was has held his seat since 2005, and will come up for re-election in 2009.