FOUNTAIN VALLEY : City Says Resident Violated Drug Order

Saying that a Fountain Valley man has violated a court order that prohibited him from selling or possessing illegal drugs at his home, the city will ask a Superior Court judge today to review the matter.

After complaints from neighbors in 1992 alleging illegal drug activity at Garrie Charles Culver’s home, he was investigated by police but was never arrested or charged with a crime because of lack of evidence, officers said.

In an unusual move, the city then filed a civil lawsuit alleging that Culver was selling drugs. The city won a preliminary injunction that ordered Culver to post signs outside his home stating that his property could not be used for the sale or use of illegal drugs.

Under an agreement with the city in April, 1993, Culver was allowed to remove the signs but was prohibited from selling or possessing drugs on his property for five years.

City Atty. Alan R. Burns said Wednesday that police recently found Culver to be in possession of marijuana, a violation of the court’s injunction. He was arrested on March 26, Burns said, but released with a citation.

Burns said another incident took place on April 4, when a man visiting Culver’s home was arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana and methamphetamine.

Burns said the city will pursue the matter because it has spent a considerable amount of money and effort to rid the neighborhood of drugs.

“The judge had issued a very specific order on how Culver should conduct himself, and he is showing disregard for the judge’s order,” Burns said. “The city is going to bring that to the judge’s attention.”