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Posted on 11/07/2001 3:59:48 PM PST by B4Ranch
Solana Beach 'bullying' homeless man, friends say By Dana Littlefield November 7, 2001 SOLANA BEACH -- Neighbors and local business owners are rallying behind a homeless man they believe is being treated unfairly by city and county officials. Robert Thomas Northcut, 49, who has lived on the streets of Solana Beach for more than a decade, was arrested last week on suspicion of trespassing on a city-owned traffic median where a war memorial sits. Sam Georges, a lawyer from Solana Beach, and Chris Tatem, owner of the Do-It-Yourself Dog Wash in Solana Beach, helped get Northcut out of jail. Now they and several other residents are working to handle his legal problems, including reuniting him with his dog, which was taken to a county animal shelter when he was arrested. "The only thing I own is that damn dog," Northcut said Monday while lying in the grass overlooking Fletcher Cove. "He's my dog and he's faithful to me." Even before Northcut's arrest, neighbors banded together to help him out and bring him food. They even cared for his dog, getting it neutered, vaccinated and registered with the county. "It's not one person; it's the whole community," said Tatem. They said that Northcut doesn't panhandle or bother their customers and that he just wants to be left alone with his dog to live outdoors. Putting him inside a building, Georges said, would be like "taking a coyote and chaining it in the garage." Northcut's German shepherd -- named Thomas Jefferson, or T.J. for short -- remains in custody at the county animal shelter in Carlsbad for lunging and barking at city and transit employees. The dog bit a man in May, according to animal control officials, and city staff members say it threatened several maintenance workers and one department head. Northcut admitted that his dog has bitten people, but said T.J. was just protecting his master. The dog had been abused before being rescued in Tijuana and nursed back to health by Northcut and Tatem. "He's a very feisty animal. He's addle-brained," Northcut said. "He's a lot like me. He's all nervous like me." Members of the county Dangerous Dog Task Force are expected to decide today whether to issue a notice declaring T.J. a public nuisance. If that happens, a hearing will follow, and the dog could be required to wear a muzzle or be fenced off from the public entirely. Northcut said he and T.J. set up camp at the war memorial after he heard reports on a portable radio of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. For the next few days, Northcut, who said he is a Navy veteran, raised and lowered the U.S. flag on a pole near the memorial to half-staff to honor victims. "He was taking care of the war memorial," Georges said. "It was his effort to 9/11." He said that the city is "bullying" Northcut for crushing plants that surround the World War II memorial where Northcut and T.J. had been sleeping, and that the county should return his dog. "He's just lost without his dog," Georges said. "If the city doesn't want him around, there are definitely more humane ways to get him away from there." City officials said the traffic median, on Plaza Street and surrounded by cars heading to and from Fletcher Cove, is not a safe spot to hang around. A "No Trespassing" sign is posted near the flagpole, which shares the crowded median with a large fountain and the memorial. "There really isn't a place for people to congregate," said City Manager Bob Semple. "It wasn't meant to be used for people to gather there." Northcut has been cited several times for trespassing at other spots in the city. Jennifer Lynch, the Vista attorney whom Georges asked to appear in court last week on Northcut's behalf, disagreed with Semple. "To say that there's no trespassing at a war memorial is unconscionable," Lynch said. A court hearing on Northcut's trespassing charge is scheduled for Nov. 15. ________________________________________________________________________________________ Copyright 2001 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
STAFF WRITER
Since I don't personally know the fellow, I have no opinion as to whether Mr. Northcut even has a problem at all, much less what would be my solution or whether he would seek or accept help. All I know is what I read about him: he prefers to live outdoors, which apparently excludes backyards, frontyards, and secluded private or even public land. A similar account inferred that he has some powerful friends helping him out already (so people may want to send their AT&T dollars to a local VA home or a Salvation Army instead). Some parts of California are like that; whole counties along the coast whose demographics are comprised of nothing but millionaires and bums, and they all get along really well.
And do (you) believe that his dog should be put to death...?
Since I'm not a resident of Solana Beach, my opinion of a local matter doesn't really matter. We hope that whatever happens it will be just and fair.
It's curious that you take such an interest in this thread, posting nasty remarks, and even taking the time to send email to Animal Control telling them to kill a dog. I know you don't care what anyone here thinks of you, that's very clear. But at least I would respect your position if you took the time to substantiate your remarks, as others here have. Otherwise, it just looks like you're enjoying bashing a fellow veteran when he's down. I can't help but wonder why...
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But, we as vets, must keep two things in mind,
One: We took an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.
And Two: That oath is just as valid today, as the day we took it and now we are once again needed. www.ChristianPatriot.com/vets.htm
While the feds may ignore us, the local sheriffs offfices and police have been able to stop many and prevent more than one incident because of information given to them by vets nationwide.
May Jesus rescue and bless the USA and may He deal with those who use the power of their office to attack us and this nation.
Mark
US Military veterans only, any age, any sex, but only US Militray vets please. The page has been donated to us along with free email space, but the volume of non vet insulting mail is becoming a problem, if you want to defend peter jennings and the media, please write to them. Not us.
Mark
There is the problem right there. Shame on you and others who do not respect and care about Vets.
"he needs to act more responsibly and obey the law."
Theres another problem with people like you. What you think and what Mr Northcut think is responsable are 2 diffrent things. This is America and you have no right to impose what you think is right or wrong on anyone.
" If I had a dog that routinely bit people, while I defended it, I would be arrested and my dog taken from me and put to sleep."
when I spoke to Lucy BEFORE she stared spinning, I asked if any prior complaints had been files. 1 had. Others where verbal and from city workers AFTER Mr Northcut was arrested and who have it out for Mr Northcut.
His choice.
"Has he turned down help?"
Yes and MANY Vets do.
"Is he deliberately choosing to remain homeless?"
Yes. He can not lve indoors
"Is he a drug addict or alcoholic?"
From what I was told, no. "Has he ever had tretment?"Prior to 10 years ago yes.
"I am glad his response was to protect a symbol of his service, but it doesn't sound like he is right in the head."
That is one of the points here. Many Vets are not right in the head after they go through what they do for America.
"Why would the Police "all of a sudden' arrest him for this?"
They had been trying to figure out a way for months how to lock up Mr Northcut. Lucy came right out and said so.
"Is this memorial in a spot in town where a shanty would be unacceptable?'
No. It is in the meridian comming into town. Small area
"Has he had other behaviours where he ran into Police problems, only for this to be the last straw?"
Trespassing on railroad tracks and the memorial are all he has ever gotten into trouble for. While I spoke to Lucy and she was telling me about the warrents she did tried to make it sound as if his warrents were for something more than trespassing. She was also much more concerned about the landscaping than Mr Northcut.
"His veteran status; is it confirmed? IS he a genuine vet? Are his awards legitimate?"Yes
"Is it possible he is mentally disturbed, and that is why he is living on his own on the street? It does NOT sound lke a rational act, to go to the town square and protect a memorial, no matter how well intentioned."
Yes he is diturbed as many war vets are.
I'd like to know more about the guy, but from what I have read in the last few days, it sounds like this guy needs to spend time with a counselor."I think thats his choice. I also dont think counsling now would help him much.
< If he is a veteran, he has my sympathy, in fact, if he is NOT a vet, he has my sympathy, but his actions don't sound right to me."
Same here. I dont like seeing people like this anymore than anyone else. However who am I to impose on Mr Northcut, what will make ME feel better about his situation.
She said she didnt know much but she had answers for everything UNTILL I compared what she said to the press release and stated. Im confused lets go over the FACTS again. She started getting edgy then and started saying, "well, we just found out about this, I have already given you confidential info, etc. I told her I would give her time to check out the facts and I would call back. She was not available for the rest of the day, never returned my calls. I didnt call yesterday but I will try again today.
Those officials who seek to persecute RT Northcut are asking for severe economic consequences for their community. Clearly it is apparent that the government of that community does not have the proper for vetrans and for those who are risking their lives for their fellow Americans. Maybe the isolation of Solana Beech from New York City, Arlington, VA, Washington, DC, Boca Raton, FL, Trenton, NJ and the other places that have already suffered attacks in this nation makes the officials there think it is more important to maintain a facade of political correctness and upper middle class detachment but absolutely every American must come together in this time of national engagement.
Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown
During the Viet Nam war many dogs were used by the military.
Almost none returned to the states as their handliers did.
If a dog could not adapt to a new Handlier, it was destroyed.
And as the war wound down and our involvment did too,
Almost all of the war dogs and guard dogs were destroyed.
Now I don't know how TJ came to be in RT Northcut's possession after being a working dog for the Border Patrol,
But considering how the government treated the War Dogs of Viet Nam,
TJ was lucky that he wasn't destroyed as well wheen he reached the end of his usefullness.
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