Posted on 04/29/2009 5:52:32 AM PDT by stickandrudder
SAN DIEGO -- Spencer Trussle likes to play and ride his bike.
"I'm 4 years old," he said, "and I have a sister named Olivia, and I ride my bike all day long."
He lives in a piece of suburbia that seems picturesque: the Venzano development in San Marcos. His parents, Gary and Marla Trussle, moved the family here five months ago.
"I thought it would be good for the children," Marla Trussle explained.
But instead of being welcomed, the Trussle family has been under attack, they said, by neighbors. The accusations against them have been wild, including that 4-year-old Spencer "might come out with a firearm at anytime."
"I thought they had lost their minds," said Marla Trussle.
They are neighbors Sarah Fisher, Danielle Harway and Kelly Plaster. All three filed court papers asking that Spencer, his sister Olivia, and mom and dad be restricted to their own home and driveway.
"There was nothing I had done, my husband had done, my daughter had done, or I had done that warranted that response," said Trussle.
In court papers, Sarah Fisher wrote that, "Gary Trussle is a very violent, unstable and unpredictable man." Daniele Harway said, "He looked to be on drugs." And Kelly Plaster added, "I'm concerned that Gary or his son will gain access to Gary's firearms."
Gary Trussle responded, "There was no merit in any of their allegations."
He said the trouble can be linked to a diagnosis of autism when their son was 18 months old.
"It's like a part of me died that day," Spencer's mother said. The neighbors knew about Spencer's autism, that he might throw occasional tantrums, but he isn't violent.
The Trussles said there were no issues until Gary Trussle confronted another father on the cul de sac whose son was picking on Spencer.
It didn't go well.
Sarah Fisher reported the Trussles to Child Protective Services. She called Gary Trussle's employer, Continental Airlines, where he's a captain. She also made a call to 911, claiming he couldn't control his young children.
But the San Diego sheriff's deputy who responded declined to write a report. CPS dropped the case as unsubstantiated, and Continental Airlines stood by their longtime employee.
"I'm offended that someone would try to involve my employment, my profession in this matter," Gary said.
He has one firearm that's locked up. It was issued to him by the Department of Homeland Security for his job. He's a former lieutenant colonel in the Marines, who served his country for 25 years.
I-Team reporter Lauren Reynolds approached the three neighbors to get their side of the story. Plaster and Harway darted into a house. Sarah Fisher stayed to speak with Reynolds, but said, "No thank you" when asked if she wanted to comment.
"It's a sad story," said Dr. Kathie Sweeten, who runs the Center for Autism Research, Evaluation and Service. She said autism can be devastating both emotionally and financially.
"And when you're trying to live your everyday life and come across people who are not kind to you, it's hard," said Sweeten.
The neighbors' accusations and court filings could have ruined the Trussles, but a San Diego Superior Court Judge tossed them all out. In addition, the neighbors have been ordered to reimburse the Trussle's legal fees, which top $12,000.
Great post!
I’m with you. It sounds like the father that got the “talking to” is a wussified lib too. I’d wager his life experience never included having his ass chewed by a retired Marine Lt. Col.
>Nobody.... especially not several people at one time.... is going to accuse someone else of these things for no reason at all, out of the clear blue sky. I don’t believe this story.
I wouldn’t be so sure. I’ve had some similar situations wherein people have used the police [via 911] to complain that I had a gun, which is legal in my open carry state, and apparently the call originated with my National Guard unit: who wouldn’t have had ANY first-hand knowledge on the “incident” at hand.
Apparently this child learned first hand how to bully. I have over the years encountered the parents as first teachers are the very ones who teach the bullying MO.
Thanks. Happy Catherine of Siena day. Go out and argue with a pope.
This wasn't "for no reason at all;" it was for revenge, one of the more common reasons to act like a jerk.
What really needs to happen in this sort of case is for a public-record “scarlet letter” to attach itself to known abusers of the legal system. That way, such abuse would carry a real penalty — abusers become a Happy Hunting Ground any time they need to hire contractors, etc.
Multiple people made accusations in the Salem witch trials. Ergo, you must believe that the accused were guilty as charged, and that witches have actual magical powers.
It’s articles like this that make me feel so fortunate to live privately in a non-urbanized area.
Maybe so....
I am used to my neck of the woods. EVERYONE has some type of gun in the house. Whether it be hunting or pistols. Guns are normal around here.
I never would have believed adult human beings were capable of such behavior, but I recently saw it first hand, from some owners and board members aat my sister's condo. Bizarre, wild accusations, threats of lawsuits, I'd never seen anything like it. you'd think these people didn't have anything better to do with their lives.
I guess they really don't.
Strapped on my holster low across my hips,
Two Colt .45’s with black plastic grips;
And I’d head west through our neighborhood,
And they’d say,
“Here comes young Billy and he’s up to no good.”
I rode a trail through the neighbor’s backyard,
Shootin’ the Bad Guys through my handlebars.
Known for my bravery both far and near,
Bein’ late for supper was my only fear.
I miss Billy the Kid!
The times that he had!
The life that he lived!
I guess he must’ve got caught,
His innocence lost...
I wonder where he is?
I miss Billy the Kid!
The first thought that popped into my mind was that the three accusers were lesbian roommates.
Dunno why.
Meddling liberals who were fixated on the parent’s guns. They flex their muscles because they think they are right. They failed to take into account that the child would be covered under the Diversity umbrella because he had a disability favored by liberals.
If it costs them anything, they will lose interest immediately.
Then there's the matter of the former military father, and the fact there is a weapon in the house, and the typically Leftist CS tactic attempting to use his employer to achieve their goal.
Yes indeed, I'd say the neighbors were of the Leftist persuasion.
“Sounds like some anti-gun nuts.”
No. These people are patriotic citizens who are being Napolitano’s eyes and ears on the look out for right wing terrorists.
After all, the father is a former Marine, owns a gun and isn’t afraid to stand up for what he believes.
Oh yeah and Amen!
Some people just aren't happy unless they're stirring the, uh, compost.But seriously. I can see the psychopathic queen of the cul-de-sac who has a tree with nothing but apples of discord on it in her backyard, and whenever she gets anxious she tosses an apple out into the street.
An autistic child would give her both anxiety and perfect material for endless "amusement".
Thanks. :)
Tussles should sue the accussor for slander and harrassment. Not only get their 12k back, but make the little bastards pay.
Sorry, calling someones place of employement and CYS because you got called out for your kid being an a$$ and picking on disabled kid? What a coward.
Really? I have had the police called on my several times because I was out walking with my son. There wasn’t any reason for it to happen - but it did.
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