Michael and Kimberly Gilsinger
335 Arlington Drive
Hot Springs, Arkansas 71913
June 30, 2010
Todd Belz
General Manager
Diamondhead Property Owners Association
Cc: Sherriff Pat Mahoney – Diamondhead Police Department
Dear Mr. Belz:
Please accept this letter as notification of a formal complaint.
The Complaint is being filed against; Diamondhead POA, the Diamondhead Police Department, and a Diamondhead Patrol Officer identified here-in only as Officer “Fred”.
The Complaint is being filed by Michael and Kimberly Gilsinger on behalf of our minor child Jarrett Gilsinger, as Diamondhead Property Owners.
It is my understanding that on Monday, June 28th, 2010 sometime between the hours of 8pm and 9pm that Officer “Fred” confronted 6 individuals swimming in Lake Catherine near the Crazy Yankee Docks. Five of these individuals are minor children, and one is an 18 year old male. My son, Jarrett Gilsinger is one of the five minor children.
According to statements provided by the children, Officer Fred threatened my son and the other children by verbally stating “The next time you kids try to hide from me, I’ll jump in there, I don’t care about getting wet, and I’ll drown you.” This statement was delivered in a serious and aggressive manner and was interpreted as a literal threat by the children. Although my son did not hear all of the conversation between Officer Fred and the other children, he did hear one additional comment made by Officer Fred stating “I have enough bullets in my pocket too”. My son was then told by the other children that this comment was made by Officer Fred in response to another adult Male passerby’s suggestion to Officer Fred that “You should just shoot them”. My son is very upset as a result of this situation.
As Parents and Property Owners in Diamondhead we find Officer Fred’s behavior offensive and reprehensible. Additionally we believe Officer Fred is in violation of Arkansas Criminal Code Section 5-13-301(a)(1)(A), Terroristic threatening, which states;
“A person commits the offense of terroristic threatening in the first degree if:
(A) With the purpose of terrorizing another person, the person threatens to cause death or serious physical injury or substantial property damage to another person”
Because of his actions we are requesting that Officer Fred be permanently removed from the Diamondhead Police Department immediately.
We request that that you respond to our complaint in writing by Midnight July 1st, 2010.
Sincerely
Michael Gilsinger
Kimberly Gilsinger
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