Deputies to Review Incident at War Protest

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department reversed an earlier position and said Thursday that it is investigating whether a driver intentionally hit an anti-war demonstrator with his truck in Thousand Oaks.

Sheriff’s officials said they decided to look into whether the driver committed a crime after more witnesses stepped forward.

The Ventura County district attorney’s office also said Thursday that it would be interested in reviewing an investigation of the matter.

The Sheriff’s Department’s original investigation showed that a truck driven by Glenn Gazdik, 22, accidentally jumped the curb and hit protester Ali Dempsey, 25, who said she suffered back and leg injuries. Authorities said Gazdik told them that he left before deputies arrived because he had become frightened when other protesters leaned toward the passenger side of his 1988 Ford pickup.

They said they did not arrest him for leaving the scene of an accident because he had lived up to the spirit of the law by reporting the accident as soon as he reached his Agoura home.

But authorities said Thursday afternoon that new information from witnesses raised questions about the accuracy of his account. “Enough’s changed that it’s raising a concern in my mind,” Sheriff’s Cmdr. Bill Wade said.

Wade said the investigation is being made more difficult because of strong feelings by witnesses over the war issue.

“The problem is we don’t have any uninvolved witnesses,” Wade said. “Most of the people are on one side of the thing or another as far as the war.”

A woman who identified herself as Gazdik’s mother said Thursday that Gazdik would not comment on the incident.

Sheriff’s officials had said Wednesday that Gazdik, who was stopped at Moorpark Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard, became involved in a verbal confrontation with protesters about 4 p.m. Tuesday. Protesters said Gazdik yelled obscenities at them before driving onto the sidewalk and hitting Dempsey.

Authorities said Gazdik told them that he became frightened of the protesters and turned the corner too sharply, accidentally hitting Dempsey, who was standing on the sidewalk.

But Dempsey said Wednesday that Gazdik had shouted obscenities at her and other demonstrators before driving onto the curb and hitting her. She said she tried to move out of the way, but the truck knocked her into the street. The driver then sped away, she said. Other protesters called an ambulance for her, and she was treated at Los Robles Regional Medical Center.

She could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Lt. Geoff Dean would only say Thursday that detectives are investigating whether Gazdik intentionally attempted to strike Dempsey and that their findings will be forwarded to the district attorney’s office.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Gregory D. Totten said his office told sheriff’s officials Thursday that it wanted to review events detailed in the investigation report.

“It’s our responsibility to review allegations of criminal conduct,” Totten said.

Dempsey, a homemaker and data processor, suffered a bruised leg bone and scraped knee when she was hit, said attorney Donald E. Stevens, whom she has hired to seek damages against Gazdik. She also has pain in her lower back, right shoulder and neck, Stevens said.

Dempsey said earlier that she was outraged that Gazdik had not been arrested.

“A person doesn’t get hit standing on a street corner on a sidewalk in broad daylight with clear weather without somebody being negligent,” Stevens said.