More and more anti-gay news. This time from my hometown of San Diego.
Last week, Francine Busby, a 2010 Democratic Congressional candidate, attended a fundraiser held for her at the home of Shari Barman and Jane Stratton, a lesbian couple. Busby used a microphone from about 8 to 8:30 p.m. to address 30 or so fewer guests. During this time, witnesses said an unidentified neighbor interrupted the speech by heckling Busby and using anti-gay slurs. And then someone called the police with a noise complaint, and Deputy Marshall Abbott responded:
Abbott walked into the house shortly after 9 p.m. and said he was responding to the noise complaint. When Barman refused to provide her date of birth and turned to walk away, Abbott grabbed her arm, but guests pulled her away, said Sgt. Thomas Yancey of the Encinitas sheriff’s station.
. . . It ended with Barman, 60, being arrested and jailed on suspicion of battery on a peace officer, and resisting, delaying and obstructing a peace officer.
Pam Morgan, 62, a Rancho Santa Fe resident and one of the guests, also was arrested and taken to the Encinitas Sheriff’s Station, where she was cited for resisting, delaying and obstructing a peace officer.
Other partygoers were doused with pepper spray, and seven deputies, a sergeant and a helicopter were dispatched to the neighborhood of expensive homes.
A fire truck and a K-9 unit arrived were also called in. Seven guests were arrested for taking photos with a cell phone camera and talking back to an officer. Witnesses described Abbott as “out of control.”
Busby is demanding an explanation from the Sheriff’s Department.
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