Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology From: p.d.coates@support.com Subject: WELCOME TO ALT.RELIGI Date: Mon, 13 Feb 95 09:38:15 -0800 Dear Everyone, About an hour ago, Dennis Erlich called me. This morning, about 8:00 A.M. PST, Dennis was served with a civil search warrant by Thomas Small and the Glendale, CA police. There are about 12 people at his house. The warrant, allegedly signed by a San Francisco judge, authorizes a search of Dennis's hard drive and disks for materials which contain alleged violations. The details are sketchy. Priscilla Coates ===== From: dennis.l.erlich@support.com Subject: ILLEGAL SEARCH AND SIEZE Date: Mon, 13 Feb 95 22:53:16 -0800 This morning at 7:30 am my doorbell was repeatedly rung by a man in a suit with papers. I didn't open and when he didn't go away I called 911. I was told by the 911 operator of the Glendale Police that I had to let these people (there was a crowd of about 12) into my house because of a search warrant. I went out on the front porch and talked to an on-duty Glendale police officer, Steve Eggett (badge# 12126). He informed me that I was required to permit these people to enter my house and search for copyrighted material. Two armed off-duty officers from the Inglewood police department were working as rent-a-cops (Sgt. Ed Eccles and Officer Mark Fronterotta) for the private investigation firm of Robert Shovlin (PI lic P116086) of RJS Consultants. His firm was in the employ of Thomas Small, atty for Religious Technology Center. Small also entered my house. Warren McShane (an officer of RTC, the plaintiff) and Paul Wilmshurst (a scieno computer expert) also entered. I objected but was told that they would use force if I resisted. They presented me with 6" of legal documents, one of which was a writ of sezure from a Northern Calif. Federal Judge - Ron Whyte. It is case # C-9s-20091 RMW. They were in my house going through my drawers and every computer disk and file from 7:30am to 3pm. They confiscated over 300 floppy disks. Two 120 meg Colorado tape back-ups of my hard disk and deleted any files on my hard disk that they wanted. Potentially they copied all my personal correspondence, mailing lists, financial records and personal notes. Any one who has sent me anything in confidence must assume that it has been compromised. The LA Times will run a story in the 14 Feb issue. Fox had a camera crew who videoed me begging the Glendale Police not to let them confiscate my material without me examining the disks and copies to see specifically what they were taking. I was refused the right to even look at what they had copied from my disk. Criminals being arrested have more rights than these officers of my home town and of the court provided me. I hope this at least shows what type of fascist organization I am attempting to expose. Later, Rev. Dennis L Erlich * * the inFormer * *