Why Helen Myrick Helped Form EI
This is an old P R E S S R E L E A S E from February 5, 2009 - A New Meadows woman has filed separate but related claims for damages with both the City of
It all began in the Fall of 2006 when Myrick contracted with Jeff Hannel, Red Hawk Construction of McCall, to build a duplex for her in New Meadows. Jeff Hannel, according to Myrick, stole from the construction loan using a variety of techniques including forgery. It was in February of 2007 that Myrick first went to the police, filing a comprehensive criminal complaint against the builder in McCall. At the time, Myrick was unaware of the long-standing relationship between the builder and Jerry Summers, McCall Police Chief. The police department refused to assist her, though, and cited the advice of their own Chief, Jerry Summers, who advised them they had “no jurisdiction”.
Myrick alleges the principal public employees she names in her claim for damages took action to assist an individual named Jeff Hannel, who she can verify to be associated with three of the most powerful and well-known officials. These officials, Myrick alleges helped their friend, Jeff Hannel, to avoid criminal charges for felony crimes against Myrick. Myrick claims she has documented evidence proving that McCall Chief of Police, Jerry Summers, Valley County Prosecutor Matthew Williams, and Judge Henry Boomer are affiliated publicly to and with Jeff Hannel, a McCall builder. Myrick accuses Hannel of stealing a significant amount of money from a variety of cost-codes in a construction loan that has grown with interest and penalties against her, resulting in damages well in excess of that amount.
The jurisdiction problems did not make sense, not only to Myrick, but to anyone she went to for the help. According to Myrick, investigators in Adams and
A full ten months after filing the original police report, Myrick says she was able to cause one complaint to be referred to the Valley County Prosecutor’s office (when there should have been many more). Later, Myrick learned Williams would not even open a file. According to Myrick, at that time, Matthew Williams, Valley County Prosecutor was successfully ignoring her as she watched many cases pass her by in the system. One day as a result of Myrick’s occasional follow-up call to check on the case (as well as Ada County, Jonathan Medema's attempt to call Williams), Myrick says, Williams became unhappy that she had not dropped her pursuit of charges against Jeff Hannel. In December of 2007, Matthew C. Williams, according to Myrick, actually called her and for the first time. Myrick alleges that Williams yelled violently and reprimanded her for contacting his office and forbade her to ever to call again. William, according to Myrick, included a refusal to her request to return the calls of his counter-parts that were working in conjunction with Myrick to properly place the bulk of the complaint back with McCall and
Matthew Williams, the Valley County Prosecutor, according to Myrick and available records, then acted in a case related to himself as the victim and took a request to Judge Henry Boomer for Myrick’s arrest. Williams alleged that Myrick harassed him. This was never proven and Myrick has always insisted that Williams illegally denied her the services of his office based on who she was attempting to have the city and the county to charge. Meanwhile, Myrick continued to question the fact that Judge Boomer would sign a warrant in violation of the
Throughout the course of events, Myrick recalled her builder bragging about being friends with Matthew C. Williams, the Valley County Prosecutor. Myrick reports that she has since verified this relationship in a confidential document supporting her claim for damages. What Myrick describes as a “nightmare beyond belief” involves the most powerful public officials in McCall/Valley County. After you’ve caught someone acting like the world is their store, beware if they say, “it’s so good to know if you ever got in trouble, the prosecutor is your friend,”. When a person who has been preyed on starts to figure out why they are not getting help, the events and the time-frame are so damaging that oftentimes there is no repair, says Myrick; who also believes that any person who feels protected by their friends in law enforcement won’t take reparative action in time to make a difference for the wrongs they’ve done. In cases of preferential treatment, Myrick explains, “no criminal charges are expected by the perpetrator who believes he is exempt – so why would they try to make anything right”? “That’s what happened to me”, she says.
If you want to hold someone who is well-connected in
According to Myrick, once she began complaining false reporting on behalf of Matthew Williams, and piecing together the inappropriate relationships in comparison to actions that either were or were not being taken - all of the officials named in her claim began to expand and increase their efforts to quiet her through a variety of legal tricks performed in conjunction with one another and against her consent. Myrick alleges their harassment went on through all of 2008 and as recently as January 2009. Ultimately, the principals in the case modified a previous probation affecting Myrick in order to limit her ability to call, visit, or communicate with anyone in the county who might help her. She is no longer subjected to the threat of arrest they imposed, which Myrick says violated her constitutional rights. She is now ready to seek accountability for those involved.
Myrick’s claim alleges her crime victims rights were violated, that each of the employees named played critical roles in harboring and being an accessory to a felon, committing new crimes in so doing, and that the City of McCall and Valley County both failed to provide her equal protection under the law, together as designated in a unified and cooperative agreement. She further claims the named public officials intimidated her as a victim/witness, failed to comply with due process, committed false imprisonment, public corruption, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice. All of this, Myrick indicates resulted in substantial personal injury and other damages to her. Myrick says it’s a difficult and unpleasant task, but she says she believes the facts need to be heard at a trial so the public can know what has happened. She indicates a desire to have the entire story told in order to let the facts speak for themselves.
Myrick says also that she doesn’t think her situation is unique, but instead there is a history of abusing power in both McCall and
As of August 2009, the criminal complaint against the builder (transferred to January 2010 - A Discussion About Fear, "The Williams' Pill"
October 26th, 2009 **** Special Note to McCall Leadership*****:
From the very beginning, I sought to be direct and honest in my problem solving. I turned to everyone who was supposed to help, and I turned to them in time. I can prove everything I am saying and encourage the City of McCall in it's current and upcoming leadership to read all the documents I have. I have gone to see the City Manager, Lindley Kirkpatrick, two times. I have writtent to the City Manager more than once. I asked the City of McCall and Valley County early on to particpate in a three-way conference call with prosecutors from Ada County and Adams County, specifically to properly place my case and avoid further hardship (this too was early on). McCall Cheif of Police Jerry Summers refused by way of ignoring me. Jeff Hannel operated his business and had his office and license in McCall.
When Matt Williams arrested me illegally, I got a lecture from Judge Boomer while I was wearing shackles. He told me that my builder's case was not a criminal issue. I wondered then, why he would think he knew anything about it? Turns out, My builder (Jeff Hannel, married to Tammy Hannel) is Helen Spaulding's son-in-law. Helen Spaulding founded WAAF, Inc. with Jerry Summers and Judge Boomer's wives. I know now, but I did not know then that Jeff Hannel's (Helen Spaulding's) entire family benefited from the financial crimes against me, some in large and untracable cash amounts.
I had already seen two attorneys, one did not have the tenacious nature to help me with my bank issue (the loan funds were disseminated improperly to the builder, as compared to directly to the subcontractors and suppliers). The second attorney firm, Muellman and Mollerup, referred me to a firm called White Peterson for supposedly being "bank experts". I barely knew of Bill Nichols being the McCall City Attorney, but (at the time) I did not know he was with White Peterson. This firm held my case and retainer over the period of January, February, and March of 2008. This was the period of the actual foreclosure, and they took no action to defend me (all the while I was writing to them and calling them).
Shortly after the actual foreclosure, White Peterson wrote me a letter indicating that a telephone interview they conducted with Matt Williams caused them to beleive there were no crimes committed on my loan, and that I had "let my builder do whatever he wanted". They returned my money, of course. The statements made by Matt Williams by phone were to Dennis Wilkinson. Matt Williams made these statements even though he had never seen the case or done an investigation (because he did not have jurisdiction, remember?). So it was that Matt Williams interferred with not only my attempt at releif as a criminal complainant, but in my attempt at civil releif as well!
Throughout this, I went to the papers, to no avail. I did all the things an average person would do to bring releif and I can prove this, too. Then, I found out I was not alone. I learned many people in McCall have problems with the same individuals and roles. I didn't ever want a lawsuit, but I have incurred damages. I wanted service from the Police and protection. I wanted accountability. I wanted my efforts to matter, and to keep my home. I was still in time and had an end loan two separate times. I was trying to get the builder (Jeff Hannel to pay his liens). Hannel had the money in the bank the whole time, but didn't beleive he'd ever be charged so he did nothing to make things right. He wrote to people and said he was broke, confident his bank records would never be seen.
Later, things just got worse and worse. The more I continued to follow up on the case, the more I was intimidated. I found out that all accountability for public employees or public officials comes from other public officials. It is impossible to get a public official investigated without an investigative authority. In order to assign any investigative authority, a public official (or a group of public officials) has to file the complaint - it cannot come from a citizen. If you do some research, you'll find this is true. Once I was released from the threat of arrest in early 2009, I called the City and asked to be on the agenda for my complaint against Cheif Summers. I was denied by the staff and referred to Mr. Kirkpatrick, who handles all personnel complaints, as you know, and who I had turned to before.
I needed your help and for you to know what was happening to me. I was told, I needed to have a public case in order for the paper to tell my story. Even after the claim for damages, the paper would not print any portion that related to the corruption or the personal relationships, essentially "the whole story". I want you to know the truth and the extent of effort that has been gone to in order to hide it. I encourage all current and potential leaders in McCall to learn about my and other cases. EI formed from lack of other alternatives and we can each and every one of us prove everything we are saying. It is my hope and appreciation that you will finally take an interest, not just in mine - but all our stories. There are people who don't dare put their name on the site. It has not been without social and financial costs to me, that I do.
I still need your help and want to hear from you as Challengers and as Current Council, as a group of concerned public representatives. I want to know how it is you will proceed with investigating the McCall City Manager, Cheif of Police Jerry Summers and McCall Prosecutor, Matt Williams, to verify what has happened. I have really only ever wanted access to you, but it was effectively blocked by your form of government, the people you have in the roles within that form of government, as well as their powerful friends in Valley County and it's court. Certainly, corruption is not written into the City Comprehensive plan. It can become a part of any organizations culture, though, a culture that you can help establish differently through access and accountability.
HM
Late December 2009 - see Emails of an Abusive Prosecutor,
February 2010 - An Example, "Williams Does What He Wants"
February 2010 - Prosecutor Jonathan Medema meets with Ron Axtman, no more documentation needed. Case goes to charging authority next.
What should have taken 4-6 months, now at three years and not by accident.
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