Friday, August 24, 2012

Re-post Of Righeimer Questioned About Sobriety (Update)

An Explanation:  I had to delete the first version of this post from yesterday... a bug infected it, as some of you with Internet Explorer already know.  This should have fixed it... I retained all the comments posted previously.  Sorry about the confusion.  

Thursday, August 23, 2012


Righeimer Questioned About Sobriety(Updated)

I PAUSED
When I saw this story in the Daily Pilot, HERE, I hesitated about writing about it at all.  I didn't want to be accused of piling on.  However, despite the fact that, according to the Daily Pilot report, Righeimer was NOT under the influence, it IS news and it is VERY unlikely that this story is going to go away any time soon.

WHO KNOWS FOR SURE?
I have never seen Righeimer drink and I have never seen him drive.  So, I have never seen him drive drunk.  Many people who will read the Daily Pilot article and this note will assume that Righeimer is correct - that he was "set up" by political opponents.  That, of course, is very possible - he's made a lot of enemies in this town through his actions since he arrived six years ago.

AN HONEST CALL...
I'd like to think that the call that generated members of the Costa Mesa Police Department to go to his home and give him a preliminary sobriety investigation in front of his children was made by a person seriously concerned about getting someone they perceived to be driving while impaired off the road.  Yeah, I can hear the groans out there now.

A BAD MOVE!
Righeimer has created a situation, going back at least two years, where he's not a popular subject among members the Costa Mesa employee family.  If this was, in fact, a "set up", that is absolutely unacceptable behavior.  Those who did it MUST cease that kind of crap immediately.  If you read this blog and are responsible for it, PLEASE STOP!


UPDATE AS OF 10:00 P.M. THURSDAY NIGHT
The Costa Mesa Police Department issued a press release about this incident shortly before 9:00 p.m. Thursday, August 23rd.  It covers an "allegation of reckless driving" that occurred at Fairview Road and Avocado Avenue on August 22nd at approximately 6:00 p.m.  Here is the text of the synopsis of the press release:

 On Wednesday evening, August 22, at approximately 6:00 p.m., a motorist called the Costa Mesa Police Department to report that he was following a possibly intoxicated driver.  The caller provided a description of the vehicle and followed it to a residence.  An officer arrived and made contact with motorist who pointed out the residence of the driver of the vehicle.  The officer made contact with the driver, identified as City Council Member Jim Righeimer, and determined that Mr. Righeimer had not been drinking and was not under the influence.  The Police Department is currently looking into the initial information received to ensure its validity. 

NOW WE WAIT FOR THE RESULTS...
At this point it seems there is nothing else to do except await the results of the investigation by the Costa Mesa Police Department into this situation.   I, for one, sure hope that happens FAST!

16 Comments:

Anonymous not buying it said...
I don't doubt that there are some out there who are stupid enough to do something like this as a prank, without a clue about the big picture consequences. If that's the case, he's doing them a favor.
Another thought is... this guy's a dirty politician and something like this diverts attention away from the critical eye he been getting and redirects it at his opposition.
You'll immediately start hearing from Mensinger, Fitzy and the rest, how this shows who they're fighting the good fight against. The union thugs who do these kinds of things to a good family man in front of his kids.
This comes right out of a political playbook. Don't doubt that this will be in the news and brought up over and over again to paint an example of who they are standing up to and this is the price that they pay for standing up to the union thugs.
I'm not buying it.
8/23/2012 06:25:00 PM  
Anonymous Troll Tracker said...
Sounds like a set-up alright, not by "political opponents of Righeimer," but by Righeimer ALLIES- just like the suspect "vandalism" claimed by Mensinger and Monahan last year.

Calls to police are easily traced. Nobody over 14 would do such a "set-up."

I would bet that friends of Righeimer did this to cast aspersion upon CMPD and generate sympathy for the gang, in order to distract from the 3 stooges heading toward a massive election loss in November.
8/23/2012 06:32:00 PM  
Anonymous Mom said...
So, Councilman Righeimer said he was targeted by political enemies who falsely reported that he was driving drunk huh? "Clearly, it was a setup," he said. Yeah, right.

Riggy sounds exactly like his buddy Jim Fitzpatrick. Fitzy falsely accused other CMSD Directors of a personal attack and having some sort of vendetta against him too! Wow, these two knuckleheads are obviously using the same playbook. It’s getting really old. Boohoo, let’s cry to the Daily Pilot. They look like complete fools!

I thought these guys were confident their side is going to win? If so, why would they be worried about a couple of enemies? After all, as Deepthroat said in another post, they have some bombshells of their own that should be coming out within a week. Wow, I can’t wait for that! Hmmm, perhaps this news story is just a set up…

Take some advice Rig and Fitz: If you do the right thing and quit pissing people off, you’ll find that your life will be much, much better. It’s really that simple. You should try it. That way, you wouldn't have to be so paranoid.
8/23/2012 06:45:00 PM  
Anonymous not buying it said...
That didn't take long!
Quote Steve Mensinger... "in the end the tactics define the cause and it's supporters".
There it is! The political reason behind something like this... is so he can say that.
Those damn union thugs have to be behind this "tactic". Right? I'm not buying it.
8/23/2012 06:48:00 PM  
Anonymous Question the call said...
If the police come to my door to discuss a situation such as this or anything as serious....I would have my wife take the kids inside.
Maybe this call was placed by a fellow GOP person as a scheme to make it look like the unions are playing dirty, thus taking some of the heat off of Mr Righeimer and his group.
8/23/2012 06:50:00 PM  
Anonymous Mike McNiff said...
Man, you leave for a few hours to take the kids to soccer, and all hell breaks loose.

Agreed - if someone did this as a 'prank' for lack of a better term, that doesn't even belong in the Dirty Politics Pantheon.

If not, they will still try to use it to their advantage, as they already are. Seeing lots of new names on the Pilot comments coming out in support, as they should.

But who can forget the checkpoint fiasco a few years back? Anyone, on any side, can play dirty, as we've come to learn. Would sure be nice to know the truth - the good, the bad and the ugly.
8/23/2012 07:08:00 PM  
Anonymous Rigged-Up said...
Today another extremist on the defensive suddenly has "threats" against him. Coincidence? You decide. Cynical people would say, "just another extremist tactic to divert attention."

http://news.yahoo.com/police-investigating-reported-threat-against-akin-231410114.html
8/23/2012 07:32:00 PM  
Anonymous Business Enemas? said...
How does Napoleon make the big jump to "political enemies" responsible for his stop- doesn't he have "business enemies" too? What about that lawyer who got the large arbitration award against him? Anyone else he might have done business with that might be mad at him?
8/23/2012 07:36:00 PM  
Blogger kwahlf said...
I'm not buying it either.
I can't help but be suspicious.
This reminds me too much of the brick through the window at Skosh Monahans and
the vandalism at Estancia HS.

Did we ever get to hear what happened, who did it, etc.?
Any resolve, any arrests?
Did the note tied to the brick ever appear?
NO- they faded away in the sunset.

This may very likely be the same scenario.
We shall see.

8/23/2012 08:12:00 PM  
Blogger feral390 said...
Is it standard procedure for law enforcement to go to somebodys house and ask them to perform fst's when they weren't observed by law enforcement actually driving a vehicle and were not involved in an accident?
something doesn't fit here...kind of reminds me of the mysterious red paint on Mensingers truck and the mystery brick at skosh's
This is gonna be a wild election season
8/23/2012 08:29:00 PM  
Anonymous Tackleberry said...
Stand by for another legendary Riggy rant at the next Council meeting. He'll throw out a couple more stabs at the PD,the "union thugs", and demand that the Police Chief not allow his officers to be anywhere near the junior Mayors street.
8/23/2012 08:44:00 PM  
Anonymous Not Drunk, Just Stupid said...
It sounds like those officers waived the pen in his face, just like he waived that pencil in the Chief of Police face. Seems like a justified trade off.
8/23/2012 08:48:00 PM  
Anonymous Mark C said...
There's a lot that doesn't pass the smell test with this. If it was a set up, why Riggy? He's not a candidate. A DUI arrest wouldn't preclude him from continuing to serve.. It wouldn't change the current majority on the council. If the unions were trying to dirty someone up, why wouldn't it be Mensinger, Monahan or McCarthy? Dirtying them up as candidates would get more mileage to change the majority come November. This whole thing doesn't sit right.

Just like other commenters said. What about all the previous "incidents"? Monahans, where the cameras miraculously were not working, Mensinger's vandalism where he didn't make a police report. What ever happened with that "stink eye" deal? I seem to recall that was unfounded. In each of these cases, it was Riggy or his boys who brought this into the public eye, not the police department. Again. It's all very fishy.
8/23/2012 11:31:00 PM  
Anonymous Wyatt Earp said...
The only way to know for sure is if the caller comes forward to identify himself or herself and explain exactly what they saw. Other than that is it just pure speculation as to what actually occurred. My guess is they probably misperceived a lane change or something else Righeimer did while driving so as to think he was intoxicated. It happens all the time. No harm, no foul. The officer doing anything less than a nystagmus test (very accurate to determine intoxication and very quick) would be dereliction of duty.
8/23/2012 11:32:00 PM  
Anonymous Terry Koken said...
Holy smoke, and I'm the guy that suggested he might be suffering from a beer deficiency. There's no way the elixir I gave him could have caused this! There's just no percentage in trying to frame Mr. Righeimer -- He's perfectly capable of hanging himself without such help, and I think whoever pulled this one had better be exposed pretty damned quickly -- or should come forward if he/she's not a total coward. Until this happens, Righeimer will continue to claim innocent victim status, and his detractors will claim that he set it up himself, or that allies did it to make him look victimized and sympathetic. It's a lose-lose proposition all the way around.

This incident clearly needs some of the city's vaunted "transparency"!!
8/23/2012 11:42:00 PM  
Anonymous Mike McNiff said...
Well, Mensinger commented on the DP about 'desperate acts by desperate people.' The question is, who are those desperate people exactly? This really doesn't pass the smell test the more you think about it, because what would CM4RG and all others in opposition to these guys stand to gain from concocting such a 'setup'?
8/24/2012 07:11:00 AM  

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17 Comments:

Anonymous roboto said...

gotta love the haters! only they could take this incident which is either caused by a union thug or rogue cop and blame the victim. Par for the course as they continue to twist everything around to the detriment of the councilmen. btw, the stinkeye incident was as real as the cops billboard last election. Here they go again which is too bad for the majority of our police who do a tremendous job for us. The other blogger in town speculated there may have been no call. Perhaps the car following Riggy was driven by a cop and this is a total setup. This is pure speculation but as viable a story as the stories in the comments section herein.

8/24/2012 09:37:00 AM  
Blogger just wondering... said...

You guys are right on. Its been mentioned by more than one person, that everytime these guys get bad press, they do something like this to divert the bad press away from them, and onto someone else.

Who is it exactly that is being framed? Hmm...Riggy?

8/24/2012 09:52:00 AM  
Anonymous Friend of Jim's said...

I've known Jim and his wife socially for years and never seen him drink. This is a terrible development. Sounds like it was professionally handled by both Jim and our Police Department. Hope they catch this guy. Abusing our police reporting for political gain is not acceptable. I would be very upset if the Police came to my door to give me a sobriety test in front of my kids.

8/24/2012 10:25:00 AM  
Anonymous Sam Grady said...

Roboto, who are the haters here? You are the one who is pointing fingers without any evidence to support your fabrications. Why don't you just barge your way into the Chiefs' office and demand to be told who had the call? Isn't bullying your MO?

8/24/2012 10:36:00 AM  
Blogger The Pot Stirrer said...

I agree with Friend of Jim's.
Based on what we know at this point, it sounds like the responding police officers handled it professionally, as did Righeimer. As I said in the post, I hope the police department gets to the bottom of this FAST! Righeimer and the public deserve to know what this was all about.

8/24/2012 10:44:00 AM  
Anonymous Mike McNiff said...

Domo oregato, Mr. Roboto... Styx Rocks!

Union Thug. Haters. Rogue Cops. Blame Blame Blame. Par For the course! Twist Everything! Police BAD!!!! Oh, wait, majority of police good. Millard speculating - maybe it was a white supremacist who made the call? Pure speculation.

Now empty the drool cup under your chin, Mr. Roboto, and try to calm down. Maybe go visit a dispensary and just chillax.

8/24/2012 10:47:00 AM  
Anonymous Sam Grady said...

I don't think Righeimer handled it professionally. He is blaming people without knowing the facts. A true professional would wait until all the information is presented before using the press as a sounding board for unsubstantiated accusations.

8/24/2012 10:57:00 AM  
Anonymous Randall said...

"An officer arrived and made contact with motorist who pointed out the residence of the driver of the vehicle."

The officer didn't ask the name of the person who made the complaint?

8/24/2012 11:06:00 AM  
Anonymous Mike McNiff said...

Randall - CMPD is investigating. The truth will come out, unless we go down the 'CMPD is part of the conspiracy because Riggy hates them' rabbit hole. I would assume they got the person's name and are checking it all out.

Pot Stirrer - I think I spotted you over in Mesa Verde at about that time. Any truth to that?

8/24/2012 11:26:00 AM  
Blogger Joe said...

Sam Grady said...
"I don't think Righeimer handled it professionally. He is blaming people without knowing the facts. A true professional would wait until all the information is presented before using the press as a sounding board for unsubstantiated accusations."

I agree with Sam. There's no evidence that anyone other than a concerned citizen made the call. Blaming "enemies" without proof is either lying or a sign of mental instability.

I don't like being stopped by the police, but on those rare occasions I'm polite because I hired them to be there in the first place. Righeimer and his pals should put aside their disdain for our safety employees and congratulate CMPD for its quick and proper response.

8/24/2012 11:28:00 AM  
Anonymous Dr. Onan said...

Maybe Riggy was on pills or something that made him drive weird and the eye test didn't catch it. That might explain his other strange behaviors like ranting about imaginary thugs and making stuff up all the time.

8/24/2012 11:33:00 AM  
Anonymous SAFETY TIP said...

On the chance that this incident involved a legitimate report by a concerned citizen, consider this: When my husband and I were sideswiped on the freeway, the first question the officer asked (after “Are you okay?”) was, “Was the lady using a cell phone?” Texting, of course is even worse than speaking on the phone.

I’m not accusing Mr. Righeimer of using his cell phone, but the incident is a reminder that DUI is not the only cause of bad driving.

Google “distracted driving” to get some good from Righeimer’s strange news story and maybe save a life.

Tamar

8/24/2012 11:52:00 AM  
Anonymous really? said...

Yes this was such a setup that the concerned citizen stayed at the scene to speak with the police. Now that is totally what somebody filing a false report would do.

8/24/2012 12:24:00 PM  
Anonymous tisapity said...

I am not buying it. They are looking for sympathy because voters feel sorry for Robin and her "we" addiction and the homeless guy bringing beer to council meetings. The sympathy vote is huge and they know it.

8/24/2012 12:56:00 PM  
Anonymous Frogger said...

Tamar makes an excellent point. We've all seen people drive erratic at times when people are not under any influence of alcohol or drugs. We've probably all witnessed distracting behaviors such as drivers texting, talking on phones, reading, changing the radio, putting on their make-up, shaving, eating with spoons and bowls etc...Maybe Riggy drank too much Diet Coke at the Ford Meeting, and he just had too pee really bad! Or worse, he got too much caffeine in his digestive system and well...he just had to "run".

Maybe the investigation will reveal that Riggy's cell phone was in use from 6-6:07pm? Got texts? Hmmm, well I'll stop my speculating, and patiently wait for the impending results.

Also, Riggy said he was so "mortified" in front of his three children. I'm "mortified" by your family's decision to allow your three young children to stand there witnessing your unfortunate sobriety test. Luckily, Daddy didn't get cuffed in front of them!

So Riggy, I'd be more "mortified" by the fact that you can abruptly demand an impromptu resident meeting with a wave of a pen at the Chief, but can't even calmly ask your kids to leave the room! Wow, now I get it. Making "tough decisions" on public issues is a more nobler act than your young children's overall emotional well-being.

The good news is, you and everyone else on the road made it home safely that night. And you got to tuck those precious angels in their beds. The bad news is, you once again, blame others for your habitual indiscretions.

8/24/2012 01:51:00 PM  
Blogger feral390 said...

You have to love our politicians...
we have a potty mouthed mayor who verbally abuses the citizens, a former mayor who gets caught on camera being a drunken kilt wearing fool, a councilman who physically abuses a teacher, flashes a phony badge, and berates airline employees and now a mayor pro tem who apparently is such a bad (but sober) driver he has people call the police and follow him because he's such a menace on the road.
A real stellar bunch aren't they?

8/24/2012 06:20:00 PM  
Anonymous Disgusted Republican/Appalled Parent said...

They are an embarrassment to themselves, and the citizens and city of Costa Mesa. I would be "mortified" to be related to any one of them! And speaking of "mortified", any normal, non-posturing person would have had their spouse take their children inside while this was going on or had them stay in the house in the first place. This "father" purposely had them remain outside to use to his advantage -"my children had to witness this". I think CPS should also make a visit to his house. He is a danger to his children, using them for what he thinks is his own political gain. How sick is that??

8/24/2012 09:23:00 PM  

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