Bombing at Home of Teamster Probed

Oxnard police are investigating a firebombing at the home of a local Teamsters union officer, officials said Monday.

Two Molotov cocktails were thrown into the home of Alfred Gordy Velasquez in the 100 block of Bottlebrush Court about 4:30 a.m. Sunday but did not explode, authorities said. A third homemade bomb was thrown at the side of the house and ignited a small fire, but was quickly extinguished.

Oxnard police said the incident is under investigation, but declined further comment.

Velasquez, 51, said he believed the incident is related to an ongoing feud between him and other officers of the Teamsters Union Local 186 over its leadership. Velasquez, a 26-year member of the local who was elected last November to serve on its executive committee, said he plans to step down.

“I cannot jeopardize my family’s safety,” he said. “This is lunacy.”

Velasquez said he is certain more than one individual was involved in the incident. In addition to the police, he said, he has also contacted the local office of the FBI.

Scott Dennison, secretary treasurer of Local 186, did not return phone calls Monday. Since taking over the union’s chief administrator post six months ago, Dennison has pledged to clean up the union’s image, which has been tainted over the years by bitter infighting and the conviction of one of its former leaders on embezzlement charges.