I still think this is a case of two women who may have been a bit angry at everyone after getting tossed from the nightclub, and Jerry was right there at the wrong time. He should go to Cafe Van Cleef instead of 17.
OAKLAND — District Attorney Tom Orloff said Tuesday he will not charge Mayor Jerry Brown with a crime after two women accused him of breaking a cell phone and making racist statements outside a downtown nightclub.
Orloff said not enough evidence existed to bring charges in the matter, which stemmed from an incident early March 5 outside @17th, a popular club near Telegraph Avenue.
Orloff's office investigated the alleged vandalism rather than the Oakland Police Department to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
"It's obvious that the mayor has been completely exonerated," said Gil Duran, the mayor's spokesman. "The charges were ridiculous from the start."
Ayesha Wilson, the Manteca woman who leveled the charges against the mayor, did not return several messages Tuesday afternoon.
Brown never commented directly on the matter, which came amid a surge in homicides and other crime in Oakland, as well as a heated primary battle against Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo for the Democratic nomination for state attorneygeneral.
Wilson, 26, said the altercation began about 1:30 a.m. as she ministered to her friend, Latrenia Delonge of Newark, who had been hit in the eye with a stiletto shoe after she got too close to a fracas outside the club. Although Delonge's sister, Rochelle Evans, had just been removed from @17th for being over-intoxicated, Wilson said she had not been drinking.
Wilson said she asked an Oakland police officer for help in calling an ambulance and making a report. As she spoke to him, she said she heard someone behind her say, "That's what you get for being here," and turned around to see who was speaking.
The mayor identified himself, Wilson said, and the two exchanged words. A little while later, the women heard more derogatory remarks, including something about "you people."
Although she was not sure the mayor said it, Wilson said she took out her cell phone and began to record the mayor.
Wilson told police the mayor grabbed the flip-phone, cracking the phone's plastic casing and its exterior screen.
Brown was at the club with officers to observe firsthand problems at downtown Oakland clubs, including @17th, Duran said.
The cell phone recorded only the image of an unidentifiable hand, officials said.
Club officials said Brown did nothing wrong, and they accused the women of being belligerent toward the mayor.
E-mail Heather MacDonald at hmacdonald@oaklandtribune.com.
OAKLAND — District Attorney Tom Orloff said Tuesday he will not charge Mayor Jerry Brown with a crime after two women accused him of breaking a cell phone and making racist statements outside a downtown nightclub.
Orloff said not enough evidence existed to bring charges in the matter, which stemmed from an incident early March 5 outside @17th, a popular club near Telegraph Avenue.
Orloff's office investigated the alleged vandalism rather than the Oakland Police Department to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
"It's obvious that the mayor has been completely exonerated," said Gil Duran, the mayor's spokesman. "The charges were ridiculous from the start."
Ayesha Wilson, the Manteca woman who leveled the charges against the mayor, did not return several messages Tuesday afternoon.
Brown never commented directly on the matter, which came amid a surge in homicides and other crime in Oakland, as well as a heated primary battle against Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo for the Democratic nomination for state attorneygeneral.
Wilson, 26, said the altercation began about 1:30 a.m. as she ministered to her friend, Latrenia Delonge of Newark, who had been hit in the eye with a stiletto shoe after she got too close to a fracas outside the club. Although Delonge's sister, Rochelle Evans, had just been removed from @17th for being over-intoxicated, Wilson said she had not been drinking.
Wilson said she asked an Oakland police officer for help in calling an ambulance and making a report. As she spoke to him, she said she heard someone behind her say, "That's what you get for being here," and turned around to see who was speaking.
The mayor identified himself, Wilson said, and the two exchanged words. A little while later, the women heard more derogatory remarks, including something about "you people."
Although she was not sure the mayor said it, Wilson said she took out her cell phone and began to record the mayor.
Wilson told police the mayor grabbed the flip-phone, cracking the phone's plastic casing and its exterior screen.
Brown was at the club with officers to observe firsthand problems at downtown Oakland clubs, including @17th, Duran said.
The cell phone recorded only the image of an unidentifiable hand, officials said.
Club officials said Brown did nothing wrong, and they accused the women of being belligerent toward the mayor.
E-mail Heather MacDonald at hmacdonald@oaklandtribune.com.
Comments