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Police probe park eviction
Discussion about immigration spurred ouster in Westminster

By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News
May 25, 2005

WESTMINSTER - Police are investigating the ouster of a group discussing immigration policies from a city park on Sunday.

"We're trying to sort out what the truth is, where's the middle ground, and what's reasonable and appropriate," Westminster police spokesman Tim Read said Tuesday.

A group of 50 people assembled by Michael Corbin, host of A Closer Look on KHNC-AM (1360 AM), first met at Jackson's All American Sports Grill, 10710 Westminster Blvd., on Sunday to talk about immigration issues and what citizens could do to change policies.

The group, which Corbin characterized as favoring strict immigration controls, was told by restaurant staff members to leave.

When some members of the group moved to nearby Christopher Fields off 104th Avenue to continue the meeting, they were told by Westminster police officer Tim Torres that the park was not an appropriate venue for their meeting and that they should leave.

"I'm still trying to evaluate what's happening," said Corbin on Tuesday. "We can't seem to get a straight answer from anybody - either at the restaurant or the park. Why didn't we get other options? It seems strange to me that we were dealt (with) this way right off the bat."

Tuesday, the Ziegler family that owns the Westminster Jackson's franchise issued a statement saying the group was asked to leave after several patrons complained.

"Jackson's All American Sports Grill regrets when any person is requested to leave its premises; however, Jackson's does not and will not allow conduct by anyone which interferes with the peaceful enjoyment of food and drink by our customers," the statement read.

Corbin said he was puzzled that his group wasn't first asked to "tone it down" if it was disturbing customers.

Bill Walenczak, director of the city's Parks, Recreation and Libraries department, said Tuesday that the pavilion area at Christopher Fields is a public area. "They had every right to go to the ball fields and view what's going on, and even talk among themselves if they wanted," he said.

"There's nothing wrong with them doing that. But we draw the line if they were disruptive to the scheduled activities."

Walenczak said that at least two softball games were being played at the complex Sunday afternoon, and that it was the players who complained about Corbin's group.

Any witnesses to the events are asked to call investigator Kevin Beren at 303-430-2400 and ask the operator to transfer the call to him.

KHOW-AM (630) radio contributed to this report.