By Michael Van Cassell and Anthony Ha
San Juan Bautista
– A San Juan Bautista city councilman involved in negotiating a
new law enforcement contract with the San Benito County Sheriff’s
Office was arrested Saturday afternoon on suspicion of assaulting
the city’s assigned deputy.
San Juan Bautista – A San Juan Bautista city councilman involved in negotiating a new law enforcement contract with the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office was arrested Saturday afternoon on suspicion of assaulting the city’s assigned deputy.
George Dias, who is in his third year as a city councilman, was arrested at 2:49pm Saturday by the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office for several felony and misdemeanor charges involving assaulting and resisting a peace officer, Lt. Roy Iler said. Dias, 45, was also arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor interfering with firefighters, Iler said.
The San Juan Bautista Fire Department and sheriff’s deputies had responded to a trailer fire on property owned by Dias in the 600 block of Mission Vineyard Road in San Juan Bautista, Iler said.
Iler said Dias refused to follow the directions of deputy Jason Leist, who was attempting to clear the road to allow access to the trailer for firefighting equipment.
Leist and another deputy attempted to arrest Dias after the councilman said, “Go get a real cop. I am not moving,” Iler said.
Leist suffered cuts to his head when he, the other deputy and Dias fell into nearby shrubs, Iler said. Leist was taken to Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, where he received five stitches on his left ear and three to his left cheek, deputies said.
Dias, who is a former San Juan Bautista fire chief, declined to comment Monday on his arrest.
“I’m not going to play it in the paper,” he said.
However, Dias did say that his arrest will not affect his work as a city councilman.
“I’m doing business as usual,” he said. “This isn’t going to change my stance against the sheriff’s department.”
City Manager Jan McClintock agreed that the arrest won’t stop Dias from serving on the council. But under state law, Dias would have to give up his council seat if he’s convicted of a felony, McClintock said.
The sheriff’s office forwarded its arrest report to the District Attorney’s Office late Monday afternoon.
The sheriff has recommended charges of battery on a peace officer resulting in injury, battery with serious bodily injury and obstructing an executive officer, all felonies. The office has also recommended charges of resisting arrest and interfering with a firefighter, both misdemeanors.
“It’s going to be up to the district attorney and the courts,” Sheriff Curtis Hill said regarding charges against Dias.
District Attorney Candice Hooper said Monday she had not seen the report and would not comment on any pending charges.
Saturday’s incident marked the second time the sheriff’s office has arrested Dias in the last three years.
In May of 2004, he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and drunken driving. Deputies said Dias had a blood-alcohol level of 0.22, nearly three times the legal limit. The legal blood-alcohol limit in California is 0.08.
After taking office in January of 2005, Dias was convicted of misdemeanor drunken driving and sentenced to 15 days in jail, three years of probation and fined $1,710, according to San Benito County Superior Court documents.
When asked about the drunken driving conviction, Dias said, “Read that report. I’m not combative at all.”
While campaigning for his council seat in 2004, Dias said he would prefer that the city have its own police department rather than contract with the sheriff’s office for law enforcement services.
Dias serves with Councilman Edward Laverone on the council’s public safety committee, which is about to renegotiate the city’s law enforcement services contract with the sheriff’s office. The current contract expires at the end of June.
Hill told the Free Lance on Monday that he hopes to reach an agreement for a new contract with the city of San Juan Bautista.
“I want to keep that whole relationship going,” Hill said.
Dias was released from the San Benito County Jail on $67,000 bail Saturday night. If convicted of battery resulting in serious bodily injury, Dias could face up to four years in state prison.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or mv*********@fr***********.com. Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or ah*@fr***********.com.
