By Mary O’KEEFE

“We know now and we can’t unknow,” said Alex Gardner after Superior Court Judge James Bianco decided that sexually violent predator Calvin Grassmier would not be placed in a Briggs Terrace neighborhood. A court date of June 25 was scheduled to discuss a new proposed placement.

Grassmier is a sexually violent predator (SVP) who has been in the Department of State Hospitals since 1999. In November he received a conditional release. The company that is in charge of monitoring him after his release is also tasked with finding a place for him to reside.

The place that was being considered was on Freeman Avenue in Briggs Terrace. On Friday, the judge cited this area as too great a risk and ruled against the specific location. Therefore another location will be proposed for Grassmier.

Gardner, a neighbor in Briggs Terrace, became a reluctant community activist concerning the placement of the SVP. After hearing that 5632 Freeman Ave. was the proposed location for Grassmier’s residence post-release, Gardner began to research SVPs and how they’re placed. After investigating, he and others throughout Crescenta Valley were surprised this location had been selected.

The judge agreed with several of the concerns raised, many which were also voiced by community members including Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. – Crescenta Valley Station and Sheriff Alex Villanueva. Those concerns included the lack of cellphone service in Briggs Terrace and being in an extreme high fire risk area. The judge also cited the close proximity to other homes.

Community members had held rallies and created Briggs United as a way to bring attention to Grassmier’s possible placement. Deputy District Attorney Jay S. Grobeson received about 480 emails regarding the placement with the vast majority against Grassmier’s placement in the Briggs Terrace area.

“I am truly relieved that Judge Bianco has found the proposed La Crescenta home as an unsuitable placement for Sexually Violent Predator Calvin Grassmier. This potential placement was a grave concern for me, the impacted residents and the community at large that mobilized and expressed their strong concerns.

“I want to thank and commend Judge Bianco for his thoughtful consideration of this matter and the unique circumstances that made this an unsuitable placement,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger stated in a press release after the judgment.

Gardner made it clear not only in interviews but publicly during rallies that this was not a “not in our neighborhood” issue.

“It is not about ‘not in our neighborhood;’ it’s not in any neighborhood,” he said.

Barger has made a motion to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to change the way local agencies are notified if and when a SVP will be released in their area.

“I also want to thank the local community for their advocacy and stewardship as well as the efforts by the district attorney’s office and the sheriff’s department. Today’s decision underscores the value of collaboration and commitment by the community and the need to ensure transparency for issues that directly impact our residents. I have authored a motion that will be heard at the June 22 Board of Supervisors’ meeting that will further the county’s efforts to promote transparency in future court proceedings involving conditional releases and residential placements of sexually violent predators in Los Angeles County,” Barger stated.

Gardner and the grass roots organization Briggs United have been contacted by residents of other neighborhoods in California who have gone through this same awakening of how the state places SVPs. Gardner said he is willing to share the information learned of the process with any neighborhood that is facing this same issue, and hopes to work to change the system.

How that system works will be the subject of a CVW article in next week’s edition.