Updated June 11, 9:40 a.m.–
Sentinel staff report–
Councilman Bret Daniels is facing a possible censure by his fellow Citrus Heights council members at a special meeting tonight after several police reports from 2008 and 2017 surfaced, alleging he repeatedly pursued communication with a former high school girlfriend in a manner she called “creepy.”
The allegations were investigated by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, which concluded that no criminal conduct occurred, but a staff report from City Attorney Ruthann Ziegler recommends censuring Daniels due to elected officials being held to “a higher standard.” Daniels declined an opportunity to respond to the allegations on Wednesday night, telling The Sentinel in a one-sentence email that “[a] response will occur during the meeting.”
The special meeting will be held at 5 p.m. tonight at city hall, located at 6360 Fountain Square Drive.
Daniels, whose election to the city council in 2016 was viewed by many — including himself— as a surprise, has often been the odd man out on the council. A month after being seated in office, Daniels had his pick for appointment to the planning commission rejected by his fellow council members who refused to ratify his appointment. He also has been a lone “no” vote on fiscal-related matters more than once, most recently breaking with his other council members in a 4-1 vote where the council voted to officially oppose a possible November ballot measure that would make it more difficult for cities to approve new local taxes and fees.
From 2016: Bret Daniels’ election to city council called ‘a shocker’ by Citrus Heights leaders
Through a public records request, The Sentinel obtained copies of the two police reports involving Daniels. The 2008 report was initiated by a man, whose name was redacted from the report, who accused Daniels of “stalking” a woman for the past 25 years and was “obsessed” with her. The officer who took the report, Gina Anderson, also contacted the woman involved and was told the two had dated in high school, but she had come into contact with him one or two times per year since then.
The report also stated that Daniels and the woman have mutual acquaintances who have been asked “invasive questions” about her by Daniels, although the officer stated the woman “could not tell me exactly what questions were asked.” On Oct. 8, 2008, Daniels had also reportedly stopped by a house where her mother lived and told a neighbor he was looking for her and recalled having “fond memories of the house.”
The report said the woman did not believe Daniels actions were criminal, but due to his alleged “pattern of behavior” making her uncomfortable and fearful, she wanted to contact police to “start a record.”
The second police report, from September 2017, states that Daniels met with Citrus Heights Police Chief Ron Lawrence on an unrelated matter and had inquired whether the department was investigating a harassment claim from the woman. He told the chief she had said she was going to contact police after he had sent her an email “out of the blue” the prior month.
According to the police report, Lawrence was unaware of the incident at the time, but, after conducting a records check, he “became concerned that [redacted name] may be a victim of harassment by a public official.” A followup call to the woman by police indicated she wanted assistance with a restraining order, if there was “a way to prevent her name being released as a matter of public record,” the report said.
The woman told police she was “hesitant” to provide further information to the local police department, due to Daniels being a councilman in the same city and her questioning whether the department could be objective.
The report concluded with a recommendation to forward the case to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, for an independent investigation. A spokeswoman for the DA’s office confirmed with The Sentinel that an investigation had concluded and had “determined that no criminal conduct occurred.”
That isn’t stopping the council from considering censuring Daniels however. In her staff report for tonight’s meeting, the city attorney says “the conduct outlined in these documents is unacceptable and is indicative of a pattern of behavior by Council Member Daniels.”
The city council will decide tonight at 5 p.m. whether to approve a resolution censuring Daniels. Click here to see the agenda.
A followup report on the outcome of the meeting will be published in The Sentinel’s upcoming Weekend Edition this Sunday. Click here to subscribe.
A little more about Bret Daniels
Daniels, 57, previously served on the Citrus Heights city council from 1999 until he resigned in 2005 while going through a divorce. His name has also been on the ballot over the past decade for various other campaigns, including two attempts for city council in 2008 and 2012, a failed bid for Citrus Heights Water District director in 2014, and running five times for Sacramento County Sheriff since 1998 — most recently running against Sheriff Scott Jones in this year’s primary election.
Daniels carries some baggage from his prior service on the council, having been the only council member to vote against the formation of the Citrus Heights Police Department in 2005. He was also fired from his position as a Sacramento County sheriff’s deputy in 2000, after the department said he lied during an internal affairs investigation relating to whether he accessed a law enforcement database for personal use. Daniels previously told The Sentinel he disputes those charges against him and believes the firing was ‘politically motivated’ by then-Sheriff Lou Blanas. Two years prior to the firing, Daniels had run against Blanas for county sheriff.
What is censuring?
Censuring is a formal statement of strong disapproval, although not as severe a disciplinary action as expulsion.
Sentinel staff report--
Councilman Bret Daniels is facing a possible censure by his fellow Citrus Heights council members at a special meeting tonight after several police reports from 2008 and 2017 surfaced, alleging he repeatedly pursued communication with a former high school girlfriend in a manner she called "creepy."
The allegations were investigated by the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, which concluded that no criminal conduct occurred, but a staff report from City Attorney Ruthann Ziegler recommends censuring Daniels due to elected officials being held to "a higher standard." Daniels declined an opportunity to respond to the allegations on Wednesday night, telling The Sentinel in a one-sentence email that "[a] response will occur during the meeting."
The special meeting will be held at 5 p.m. tonight at city hall, located at 6360 Fountain Square Drive.
Daniels, whose election to the city council in 2016 was viewed by many -- including himself-- as a surprise, has often been the odd man out on the council. A month after being seated in office, Daniels had his pick for appointment to the planning commission rejected by his fellow council members who refused to ratify his appointment. He also has been a lone "no" vote on fiscal-related matters more than once, most recently breaking with his other council members in a 4-1 vote where the council voted to officially oppose a possible November ballot measure that would make it more difficult for cities to approve new local taxes and fees.
Through a public records request, The Sentinel obtained copies...
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