This story first appeared in the April 1, 1987 edition of the Free Lance. It is a special Web companion to reporter Michael Van Cassell’s story on the 20-year-old confrontation in the weekend edition of the newspaper.
By Greg Rudder Staff Writer
A drunken street brawl Saturday in San Juan Bautista resulted in the suspension of the town’s police chief, fire chief, a reserve police officer and volunteer firefighter.
No one was seriously injured in the early-morning fracas that erupted in the bar of Dona Esther Mexican Restaurant and spilled onto Franklin Street, according to City Administrator Onofre Contreras.
“Alcohol was involved. There wasn’t anything logical about the whole affair,” Contreras said.
Contreras admitted the brawl leaves an indelible scratch on the Mission City’s pride.
San Juan Bautista Police Chief Lonny Hurlbut – the colorful 51-year-old lawman who keeps the peace in the tiny town while wearing a cowboy hat, Wild West garb and a six-shooter slung low on his hip – himself recommended he be suspended for three days without pay, Contreras said.
George Dias, a San Juan native who has been the town’s volunteer fire chief for six years, will be suspended from his unpaid post for two weeks.
The brawling reportedly ceased after about 15 minutes when the 140-pound Dias, described by authorities at the scene as “belligerent and combative,” was zapped with a stun gun by a sheriff’s deputy.
Also suspended were Dias’ brother, Mark, a San Juan volunteer firefighter, and James Quinn, a reserve police officer, who Contreras identifies as a protagonist in the fight.
Contreras issued the suspensions, which start Monday, after completing what he described as a thorough investigation on his own of the brawl.
Neither Contreras, Hurlbut nor the sheriff’s department staff members released any information about the brawl until Tuesday afternoon when they were pressed for answers about the booking of Dias. Like booking records, crime reports are by law open to public viewing.
All four men were intoxicated and, even though they were off duty, acted “unprofessionally,” Contreras said.
In the small town of 1,500 residents where politics are fierce and gossip is plentiful, Contreras said the combatants all new each other and are on a first-name basis.
“Everybody is pretty remorseful. Everybody realizes they were in the wrong,” Contreras said.
“It’s over. That’s all I’ve got to say,” George Dias said today.
While the fighting occurred, Hurlbut – by his own admission – was intoxicated in the Dona Esther restaurant detached from the bar. He later found out about the scuffle when he got a ride home, Contreras said.
George Dias, 25, of 209 Sixth St., San Juan Bautista, was charged with peace disturbance, two counts of resisting a peace officer and battery against a peace officer. He was booked at county jail and released 90 minutes later in lieu of $2,650 bail.
Dave Murray Nickols, 25, of 1450 Union Road, San Juan Bautista, was charged with resisting a peace officer during the brawl. He posted $150 bail and was released with Dias.
Charges against Dias and Nickols will be dropped, Contreras said. Sgt. Marge Day will head the force while Hurlbut, who usually heads the three-member full-time police force, serves his suspension.
“As a police chief, he felt he had a responsibility and he didn’t meet it because he was drinking,” Contreras said. “He’s feeling guilty at this time.”
Hurlbut refused comment Tuesday.
When asked how the actions of Hurlbut and the other volunteers affect public perceptions, Contreras said, “Nobody is immune to having problems when you drink too much.
“Even though police reserves, firemen, a fire chief or city administrator may be off duty, the public will look at our actions at all times,” Contreras said. “In a small town, a police officer and fire people are not even under a magnifying glass (by the public), they are under a microscope.”
According to a police report and Contreras’ investigation, the fighting started shortly after midnight after Dias joked with a woman bartender and an unidentified person told him to back off. While the two faced off, Quinn called for police.
Officer Richard Allerton reportedly arrived and attempted to lead Dias out of the bar to calm him.
The report then indicates Quinn helped escort Dias and grabbed his arm. Dias took offense. Punches were thrown and Dias’ brother allegedly struck Quinn and tried to choke him.
Outside the bar, George Dias left to walk home.
Allerton caught up to Dias at Fourth and Franklin streets and took him into custody along with reserve officer Richard Hill after a scuffle in the street.
When deputies arrived at 12:30am, Dias refused to enter a patrol car and reportedly told them: “I’m going to make you guys earn your money.”
Deputy Blaise Kostielney then zapped Dias in the mid-back with two four-second bursts from his stun gun.
San Benito County Sheriff Harvey Nyland said he is concerned about charges not being filed. He said he told Hurlbut about his concerns Tuesday.
“It makes our guys a little wary,” about going to San Juan, Nyland said. “Why call us in the first place? We don’t do business that way,” Nyland said. “If we arrest people, put them in our car and bring them over, then prosecute.”
Contreras said his probe determined Quinn was intoxicated and shouldn’t have acted in an official capacity as a reserve officer. He should have let Allerton handle Dias, Contreras said.
“Quinn interfered into the situation … That was bad judgment,” Contreras said.
Quinn and Dias share the blame for the brawl, Contreras said.
San Juan City Council members were informed of the situation this week and will discuss the fracas in a closed personnel session April 15.
On April 16, members of the police and fire departments will gather for an informal meeting to discuss conduct of city employees and volunteers, Contreras said.
Under the San Juan Bautista police code: “No officers while off-duty shall drink an alcoholic beverage to an extent which results in the commission of an obnoxious or offensive act which might tend to bring discredit upon the department or constitutes a violation of any law.”
There is no conduct code for firefighters, Contreras said.
