Chicken Says He’s Ruffling No One’s Feathers Now

So what ever happened to Orned (Chicken) Gabriel?

In April, 1988, Gabriel told The Times that he had been beaten by a “Rambo squad” of sheriff’s deputies at the El Cajon jail.

The fast-talking martial-arts expert had been jailed for non-payment of child support. His allegations of abuse emboldened other inmates to speak out.

The grand jury investigated. Sheriff John Duffy, after initially branding Gabriel and others as liars, punished several deputies and vowed that brutality would never again occur.

Duffy’s once rock-solid popularity was hurt by his blustery behavior and out-of-touch management style. Later, he decided to take his 100% pension and not seek a sixth term.

Meanwhile, Gabriel has started to reshape his life.

He just opened a martial arts studio, the United Karate Federation, in National City. He’s born-again. Also married-again.

He has reconciled with his teen-age son. He’s teaching Bible classes at Bethel Baptist Church. And preaching a new, upbeat attitude.

“I’ve never felt better in my life: mentally, physically and spiritually,” said Gabriel, 39. “My only battle is with Satan. I pray for those deputies and I forgive them completely.”

Well, not completely completely. His $2-million legal claim against the county is pending, with a court date set for May 30.

He vows to stay out of trouble. In the past he’s done jail stretches for forgery, assault and vandalism.

Among those patronizing his studio are longtime friend Sagon Penn and at least two law enforcement officers. One, a sheriff’s deputy, asks that his name not be used.

The other, San Diego police detective Tyrone Crosby, says he’s known Chicken--so named because of his head movements during karate bouts--since they were kids.

“I think Chicken has turned his life around,” Crosby said. “He’s taken a lot in his life, but he’s got a lot to offer to the community.

“I think he’s going to make it this time.”

Homes on the Range?

Try one of these.

* Look for a head-on collision today when the Board of Supervisors discusses requiring property owners to grant easements for horse trails in the backcountry.

Horse lovers will be there.

So will the opponents: the Farm Bureau, Cattlemen’s Assn., STOPP (Stop Taking Our Private Property), and WHOA (Worried Homeowners Organized & Angry).

* North County bumper sticker: God Is Awesome.

Yes, it was on a mini-truck, and yes, the mini-truck was carrying a surfboard.

* Fully-loaded Flipper?

The Miami Herald reported Tuesday that the Navy is training killer dolphins in San Diego, Florida and Hawaii.

A former civilian trainer says the dolphins are being taught to carry .45-caliber guns on their snouts to kill enemy frogmen.

A Navy spokesman says the marine mammal program is top secret. But he adds that the dolphins are not in any danger.

Cruise Control

An early brochure for congressional candidate Randall (Duke) Cunningham showed the retired Navy fighter pilot with actor Tom Cruise during the filming of “Top Gun” at Miramar Naval Air Station.

Nothing dresses up campaign literature like a celebrity.

But in a recent reprinting, the buddy-buddy picture is gone, replaced by a shot of Cunningham’s family.

Explanation: Cruise’s agent informed Cunningham that Cruise does not endorse political candidates and does not want candidates using pictures that might imply otherwise.

Cruise was sent the brochure by Jim Lantry, one of Cunningham’s rivals for the Republican nomination in the 44th District.

Among other things, Lantry informed Cruise that Cunningham is anti-abortion. Cruise favors keeping abortion legal.