State Police Investigating O’Meara/Venezia Incident

State Police are investigating the alleged assault on Dorrie Faulkner O’Meara. The Keene Sentinel has run a story today expanding on the information published here earlier in the week.

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Head to the Keene Sentinel’s site to read the article.

By Kyle Jarvis Sentinel Staff

As a City Council committee prepares to address Election Day allegations against a councilor next week, N.H. State Police have taken over an investigation into the incident, and the state Attorney General’s Office is also involved.

Dorrie Faulkner O’Meara, a local real-estate investor who ran unsuccessfully for an at-large council seat this month, alleges that Councilor Ruth R. Venezia confronted her with foul language and accusatory statements while O’Meara was campaigning outside the city’s recreation center during polling hours Nov. 8.

In a letter to Mayor Philip Dale Pregent, O’Meara stated that Venezia pulled up in her vehicle and asked if she could speak to O’Meara before shoving one of O’Meara’s campaign signs into her chest. The letter says Venezia, who was running for re-election to an at-large seat, swore at her repeatedly over claims O’Meara had attempted to place her political signs in front of Venezia’s.

In her letter, O’Meara asks for Venezia’s resignation from the council.

In an interview last week, Venezia said she had no comment, calling it a non-issue because “nothing happened.”

Meanwhile, an investigation that began with local authorities is now in the hands of State Police.

Keene police Capt. Brian C. Costa said the department took a report from O’Meara and several witnesses and were investigating possible criminal charges, including simple assault and theft of campaign signs. He said State Police have taken over the case to avoid any possible conflict of interest, since the reported incident involves a city official.

“The State Police have no direct affiliation with the city,” Costa said. “We felt it was in the best interest of everyone involved to have another set of eyes on it.”

State Police Sgt. Joseph DiRusso said some witnesses previously interviewed by Keene police may be interviewed again by state troopers.

Due to allegations of sign theft, which is covered by state statute, the Attorney General’s Office is also investigating, Costa said.

Two people have also submitted letters saying they were witnesses to the incident.

One is newly elected councilor Bettina Chadbourne, who was also campaigning at the recreation center that day.

“I heard Ruth say something like ‘get the (expletive) out of town,’ ” Chadbourne said in her letter. “Then I heard Dorrie say ‘Councilor, did you just drop the f-bomb?’ More words were exchanged.”

Chadbourne said she went to the rear of Venezia’s vehicle and said, “Guys, guys, please stop, there are voters coming in and out. Dorrie said something like ‘you need to go home and cool off Councilor.’ As (Ruth) began to get into her vehicle, she said (to Chadbourne) ‘you need to stay away from her,’ then shut her door and drove off.”

Resident Elizabeth A. Jarvis said she was also present during the incident.

“After voting I was heading back to my car … and heard raised and angry voices,” Jarvis said in her letter. “I stopped and looked back toward the driveway and saw Ms. Venezia screaming at Mrs. O’Meara. I heard Ms. Venezia say ‘everyone wishes you would just go the (expletive) away!’

“Mrs. O’Meara started to respond and Ms. Venezia leaned in toward Mrs. O’Meara and screamed ‘(expletive) you!’ very loudly,” Jarvis said.

Cynthia C. Georgina, chairwoman of the council’s finance, organization and personnel committee, to which the matter was referred, said she doesn’t know whether the matter will be discussed publicly at the committee’s next meeting, Tuesday night.

The City Council has the authority to remove a councilor if it determines that person acted inappropriately.

Georgina said she’ll take the advice of City Manager John A. MacLean and City Attorney Thomas P. Mullins on how best to proceed when she meets with them next week.

u The finance committee will meet Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall.

One item to note is that the story is written by Kyle Jarvis and cites quotes from Elizabeth A. Jarvis. It is unknown if there is any relationship between the two.

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