SCSO Sheriff responds to recent allegations, complaints
SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. — In the wake of several recent Shasta County related incidents, including last May’s Cottonwood Rodeo, a May protest regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and recent protests regarding the death of Minnesota resident George Floyd, Shasta County Sheriff Eric Magrini responded to a variety of related issues in a June 4 open letter shared to social media.
In the social media post, (which can be viewed in its entirety below) Magrini said he has recently come under fire regarding where he stands on those issues and explained his stance, as well as his and his department’s responses, related to those incidents.
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Saying he is passionate about his job, that he loves his community, and wanted to “set the record straight”, Magrini wrote, “There have been a lot of comments and innuendos as to where I stand on issues.”
“Not taking sides or not commenting on certain topics is being used to infer how I feel or how I interpret issues,” the Sheriff continued; saying the complaints began with his department’s response to last month’s Cottonwood Rodeo.
The widely-attended event, which reportedly brought in more than 1,000 area residents, took place in defiance of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s corona virus-related “stay-at-home” orders; which were still in effect.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, I and the other Law Enforcement leaders in Shasta County mutually decided to communicate with business owners in an attempt to gain compliance through education,” explained Magrini.
“We had great success with most of these personal contacts,” Magrini continued; adding, “Unfortunately, it did not work with the rodeo.”
More than a thousand people reportedly attended last May’s Cottonwood Rodeo, which took place on Mother’s Day despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Governor’s related stay-at-home orders. KRCR News Channel 7 photo
“But, because I did not issue a citation or send the few deputies available to ‘corral’ over a thousand attendees, people have suggested that I endorsed this event; as if I sponsored, attended or participated in the rodeo.”
The next series of complaints and allegations involved a COVID-19 related protest outside the Board of Supervisor chambers May 19.
“I received a phone call from (Elissa McEuen, of Millville) the day before the Board meeting asking if she could address the Board,” Magrini explained, saying, “This was my first contact with her.”
Although McEuen was advised of the current closure due to the ongoing COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and was later denied a chance to speak directly to the board, she and dozens of protesters showed up the day of the meeting anyways.
During the subsequent protest, McEuen stood outside the chambers and used a bullhorn to read a prepared statement urging the board to ease restrictions on businesses and public gatherings.
Using the bullhorn and talking through a glass partition, McEuen said, “We, the people of Shasta County, are gathered here today in a peaceful assembly to appeal to our Shasta County Board of Supervisors to defend our constitutional rights as reserved to us, the people, by our Bill of Rights.”
According to Magrini, he received many complaints after area media outlets showed images and videos of him not taking action against the group for violating the Governor’s orders.
“My attempt to maintain the peace by ‘smiling’, being polite to the group, and asking if the speaker was done was somehow twisted into my endorsing and condoning the group’s stance or opinions,” Magrini wrote in his social media post.
“As a law enforcement officer, my role is to keep the peace and to remain neutral,” explained Magrini.
While Shasta County Sheriff Eric Magrini looks on, Millville resident Elissa McEuen speaks with county Supervisor Mary Rickert during a break in a May 19 Board of Supervisors meeting. Damon Arthur/Record Searchlight photo
The Sheriff then addressed his stance regarding the tragic death of George Floyd, who died at the hands of four Minneapolis police officers. His death has led to nationwide protests – some of which devolved into looting, rioting, and untold billions in property damage and other losses.
“This incident and the events that have since unfolded, we can all agree, were and are disturbing,” said Magrini.
“As peace officers we take an oath to protect life and property,” the Sheriff continued. “I condemn any kind of excessive force or unethical treatment of our citizens.”
Saying he does not tolerate any social injustice, Magrini wrote, “As your Sheriff, I expect all department personnel to treat every member of our community with dignity and respect.”
Magrini then went on to address recent comments and allegations regarding a June 2 protest in Redding, after area media outlets reported the Sheriff was aware of militia groups wanting to join the protest and that he had possibly invited the groups to attend.
“I did not invite any ‘militia’ groups or any other groups to come to town and participate,” Magrini explained.
“The day of the protest, our office was contacted by two different groups,” Magrini went on to say.
“The first group, the Cottonwood Community Watch, sent me a message stating they were going to be in town attending the protest,” Magrini explained; saying, “Another group, the Northern California Militia, came to the Sheriff’s Main Office” regarding attending the planned protest.
“They told a records clerk they were in town for the protest,” said Magrini; adding with emphasis, “I repeat, I did not solicit or request any groups or organizations to come to town to appear at any event.”
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“I am confident in the skills and abilities of the men and women of the Sheriff’s office. They are well trained and well equipped to handle any circumstance. They receive training on how to effectively communicate and de-escalate situations,” Magrini wrote; adding, “We have a great relationship with the community we serve.”
“Please continue to be tolerant, be safe and be respectful of each other,” Magrini said in closing; while adding a quote from Audre Lorde, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate those differences.”
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Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.
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