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.
I wonder if his neighbors are as concerned about the illegal aliens that inundate northern San Diego county?
*snort* Especially one protecting his 4 yr. old son!
Which is absolutely amazing...........
Tell that to the numbers of day care owners who were charged with abuse during the 80's. Some were actually convicted and sent to prison, staying there for years before the cases were finally re-heard and thrown out for lack of evidence. There was no hard evidence at the time of their convictions, but because of parents' fears and the anger of the public at the accusations, they were convicted anyway.
ping
oops. ping
If only it was on YouTube!
I would think that the police would have caught on after a while to these idiots. Glad you got out of there.
People jump to idiotic conclusions all the time. Back when I was working, I overheard my boss talking about me to a couple of my coworkers. They were discussing how much weight I was putting on, how I was moving around slowly...when they started to mull over “maybe she’s having problems at home,” I made my presence known and let them know I was seven months pregnant, as any idiot could pretty plainly see. They seemed to like the “marital troubles” explanation better, even knowing the facts. Dumb bunch of broads they were.
People like that would climb the walls with their binoculars, LOL.
Additionally odd--the comment I'd posted on the forum, just previous to my #89, was on a SJP thread. Strange!
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