VENTURA : Citizen’s Arrest Angers City Officials

Ventura city officials said Wednesday that they are considering taking legal action against a man who brandished handcuffs at a City Council meeting this week and put Councilman John McWherter under citizen’s arrest.

City Atty. Peter D. Bulens said he is researching whether the city could obtain a restraining order to forbid Carroll Dean Williams from approaching or touching city officials.

Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury refused to prosecute the charge against McWherter. Williams also has made citizen’s arrests against Ventura Mayor Richard Francis and City Manager John Baker in the past two years. Neither was prosecuted.

“This is another of Mr. Williams’ false arrests, and it’s time that this charade came to a halt,” Bradbury said Wednesday. “I’ve suggested the police no longer accept a person under those circumstances.”

At Monday’s council meeting, Williams twice accused McWherter of being involved in a conspiracy involving the 1978 slaying of Ventura Police Sgt. Darlon Dowell. McWherter replied Wednesday to the charge: “I don’t know what that means.”

As the council adjourned, Williams pulled out a pair of handcuffs and walked to the dais, saying he wanted to make a citizen’s arrest of McWherter. He was blocked, however, by Mayor Richard Francis and City Manager John Baker.

Williams left, and McWherter asked Baker to call the police, who issued the councilman a written citation for a felony conspiracy charge.

“I insisted that they be called,” McWherter said. “Because if we didn’t, he’d be back at City Council forever, saying we’d covered it up.”

Baker and McWherter said Williams shoved the councilman during the arrest. Williams replied, “That is not correct. Councilman McWherter battered me, and I have it on videotape.”

Williams declined to comment on Bradbury’s decision to drop the conspiracy charge against McWherter. But he said of the citizen’s arrest: “It’s been in the common law and it’s been a law in the state of California. . . . When there’s a crime committed in my presence or a felony committed out of my presence, I will make that arrest.”