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Police End Probe into Arias. He Denies Wrongdoing.
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By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 6 years ago on
November 2, 2018

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UPDATE: 6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 2

Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer says his department will not move forward in a criminal investigation against city council candidate Miguel Arias.

“Detectives from the Fresno Police Department have conducted several interviews. Based on the statements provided and the lack of physical evidence, and after consulting with the District Attorney’s Office, a criminal investigation will not be initiated,” Dyer said late Friday afternoon.

After Dyer’s statement that the probe was over, Arias said:

“I’m sorry the chief had to spend our limited public safety resources on these baseless claims. City Hall needs to refocus their time getting Business Friendly Fresno 2.0! operational and fixing our neighborhoods instead of running political campaigns against me and Measure P.”

Measure P is a 3/8 cent sales tax proposal to boost parks, trails and the cultural arts.

One of Mayor Lee Brand’s top aides, John Ellis, told GV Wire earlier Friday that he had “been contacted by a Fresno Police Department detective involving an incident with Miguel Arias in which I was in direct witness, but since it’s an active investigation I have been asked not to comment further on the matter.”

Brand has endorsed Hill in the race.

Original Story

Fresno City Council candidate Miguel Arias is under investigation by the Fresno police department, Chief Jerry Dyer said Friday.

“Allegations of potential misconduct by Mr. Arias have been brought to the Police Department’s attention,” Dyer told GV Wire by email. “Detectives are conducting interviews to determine what occurred and whether a criminal investigation is warranted.”

Dyer did not provide details on how the matter came to his department’s attention.

Arias Denies Wrongdoing

Arias vehemently said that he had done nothing wrong. He is running against Tate Hill for the District 3 seat representing southwest Fresno.

“It is simply a sad publicity stunt at the 11th hour. If there is evidence to substantiate this claim, it should be made public. Otherwise, they should be ashamed they are wasting limited public safety resources on these shenanigans.” — Miguel Arias

“It is simply a sad publicity stunt at the 11th hour. If there is evidence to substantiate this claim, it should be made public,” Arias said Friday. “Otherwise, they should be ashamed they are wasting limited public safety resources on these shenanigans.”

The current District 3 councilman, Oliver Baines, said he was contacted by persons alleging that Arias attempted to extort the Fresno Chamber of Commerce by revealing potentially embarrassing internal text messages sent by chamber members.

The chamber’s political action committee has endorsed Hill and provided his campaign with direct financial support, as well as an independent expenditure on his behalf. Baines also is backing Hill.

Baines Describes Allegations

According to Baines, a former Fresno police officer, sources told him that Arias hoped to thwart the chamber’s continued support of Hill.

“I’ve heard about these allegations. I think they are deplorable for any candidate to engage in these types of actions to win an election,” Baines said. “As a public official willing to serve the public, (Arias) should conduct himself with integrity. If these allegations are true, that disqualifies him from public office.”

Baines did not identify the persons making the claim.

Brand Aide Says He’s a Witness

However, John Ellis, who works as government affairs director for Mayor Lee Brand, said that he’s a witness in the matter.

“I have been contacted by a Fresno Police Department detective involving an incident with Miguel Arias in which I was in direct witness, but since it’s an active investigation I have been asked not to comment further on the matter,” Ellis told GV Wire.

Brand endorsed Hill for the seat.

Police Contact Chamber

Nathan Ahle, the chamber’s president/CEO, said that the police department has contacted the organization.

“We will be cooperating with them,” Ahle said Friday.

Arias said he hasn’t spoke to anyone at the chamber since it held candidate interviews during the primary season.

Campaign finance documents show that the chamber PAC spent $7,762.41 on an independent expenditure for Hill, mainly a campaign mailer.

This is on top of a $4,400 contribution received today (Nov. 2) by Hill’s campaign and $1,000 in the primary season.

An Attempt to Distract, Says Arias

“I think this is an attempt to distract from a police report filed by a small business owner against Hill,” Arias said.

GV Wire received copies from multiple sources of a police report filed online in September by Lennice Najieb and Julia Dudley Najieb, alleging that Hill and his supporters engaged in identity theft.

The Najiebs, who are married, publish the website OMNE Media.

Hill denied the allegations.

After GV Wire received copies of the report, the Fresno Police Department Police didn’t confirm or deny that it was investigating the allegations against Hill.

In response to a GV Wire public records act request seeking to verify the report containing the allegations against Hill, the Fresno city attorney’s office declined to provide documents.

The request, the city attorney’s office said, “seeks disclosure of documents not required to be disclosed under the investigatory records exemption.”

The city attorney’s office cited privacy concerns as well.

 

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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