Bush Gone, but Feud Over Seats Lives On

President Bush left Santa Ana on Friday. But a dispute between Santa Ana’s police chief and a contingent from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department who wanted front-row seats for the president’s visit continued to simmer Monday.

Some county sheriff’s officials in the group said they were threatened with arrest by Santa Ana Police Chief Paul M. Walters if they didn’t give up their choice vantage point at the Bowers Museum.

Walters reportedly told the group--including Assistant Sheriff George Jaramillo; his wife, Lisa; Debbie Carona, wife of Sheriff Mike Carona, and their son, Matthew; and sheriff’s Lt. Wilfred Moreno--to leave a roped-off area where Bush was scheduled to shake hands after concluding his remarks.

“He told everyone to get out of the area, that it was only for VIPs,” Moreno said Monday. “He warned them if they didn’t get out, he would get his guys and have them arrested. For Chief Walters to handle the situation as he did, it was very insulting.”

Walters was on vacation Monday and attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful. Santa Ana police officials said they were unaware of any problems.

Auto dealer Dennis Assael of Newport Beach said he also attended the event with the Sheriff’s Department group, whose members had been invited by Mayor Miguel A. Pulido. They checked in as VIPs and staked out spots at the Bowers for an hour before being approached by Pulido’s assistant, Jill Arthur, who told them to leave because the area was reserved.

When Jaramillo refused, Arthur came back with Walters. Jaramillo and Moreno spoke separately with Walters, who again ordered the group to leave, several group members said.

“[Walters] said, ‘If you don’t move now, I’m going to throw you in jail,’ ” Assael said.

Pulido and Arthur declined to comment.

Jaramillo said there were “problems created by Chief Paul Walters.... We’re handling these privately with Chief Walters and Mayor Pulido, and we hope to be able to work it out,” he said.