Supervisorial candidate arrested at radio station
Dale Gustin outside of KPRL Wednesday morning, attended by Paso Robles Police. Photo from KPRL’s Facebook page.
Editor’s note: The story has been updated to include comments from supervisorial candidate Dale Gustin.
Dale Gustin was upset he was not invited to participate in forum, reports say
–Paso Robles resident Dale Gustin, a local candidate for the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors, was arrested Wednesday morning for trespassing when he refused to leave the premises of Paso Robles radio station KPRL.
Dale Gustin.
Gustin went to KPRL because he wanted to be included in a candidates’ forum the station was hosting. Three candidates for the seat were invited but not him, Gustin said.
Gustin said he had heard rumors KPRL would hold a candidate forum but says he was never invited and had left a voicemail asking to be included. “I confronted Dan Del Campo and asked to be included but he said no,” he said. Dale said it was a violation of the Fair Political Act and said he stayed at KPRL in peaceful protest at not being included in the forum. Gustin said KPRL then called the police who attended and arrested him on citizens arrest for not leaving the premises and he had been given a court date of June 15.
“This is the first time I have ever in my life been arrested,” Gustin said. “I wasn’t harassing staff, but I was arrested for not being included in a candidate forum.” He said the candidate forum continued as planned at KPRL that afternoon including the three other candidates Paso Robles Mayor Steve Martin, Paso Robles City Councilman John Hamon and political strategist John Peschong of Templeton.
Paso Robles Police Department confirmed that Gustin was arrested, but was not able to provide further information at this time.
KPRL reported on its Facebook page that the incident occurred Wednesday morning and police attended after they say Gustin became loud and abusive to front office staff:
“Just before 9 a.m. Dale Gustin entered the front office demanding to speak to Sound Off host Dan Del Campo or the station’s owner and was told neither were available, according to front office staff Gustin became loud and threatening, over his belief he was not invited to be on the afternoon’s District One Candidate’s forum…According to show host, Del Campo, Gustin had declined the offer to appear during an earlier conversation.”
KPRL said Gustin threatened legal action and was asked to leave. “Gustin returned shortly before noon, again verbally combative and was politely asked to leave as he was causing concern for female staff in the front office,” KPRL reports. “Gustin then went outside to begin what he termed a protest on station property and was again asked to leave…When he once again refused to leave the property police were called…Officers made several attempts to reason with Gustin to avoid being taken into custody for trespassing…When their efforts failed, Lieutenant Ty Lewis with Paso Robles Police told KPRL staff, that Gustin who had left the property, was actually heading to the police administration building to turn himself in on trespass charges and would be cited and released…Due to threats of legal action KPRL cannot comment further.” KPRL, concerned with the safety of the female staff inside, closed the office early Wednesday afternoon.
I would be interested to hear KPRL's side of the story. What an odd response from them.
Anyone who follows local politics knows that it is quite a stretch to think Dale would "decline the offer" to be on the radio anytime! One might think Dan and KPRL messed up and called in the police when they were called on it.
It sounds like a fix to me.
One more vote changed to Dale.
I'm just wondering why KPRL refused to have him be apart of this event, even if Dale had initially said no. All parties running for the Board should have been represented. Sounds a little fishy on the KPRL's side of things!
Why KPRL would fly in the face of the law is beyond me. And if it were actually true that Dale turned down the opportunity – which I highly doubt – it would have been an easy thing to add him to the group. I don't always agree with Dale and what he has to say, but he certainly is entitled to express himself at a candidates' forum.
Bad KPRL, I will vote for Dan
I would be interested to hear KPRL's side of the story. What an odd response from them.
Anyone who follows local politics knows that it is quite a stretch to think Dale would "decline the offer" to be on the radio anytime! One might think Dan and KPRL messed up and called in the police when they were called on it.
It sounds like a fix to me.
One more vote changed to Dale.
I'm just wondering why KPRL refused to have him be apart of this event, even if Dale had initially said no. All parties running for the Board should have been represented. Sounds a little fishy on the KPRL's side of things!
Why KPRL would fly in the face of the law is beyond me. And if it were actually true that Dale turned down the opportunity – which I highly doubt – it would have been an easy thing to add him to the group. I don't always agree with Dale and what he has to say, but he certainly is entitled to express himself at a candidates' forum.
Bad KPRL, I will vote for Dan