CAACP - Fire Marshal Protest 1/19/2010

Good Samaritan's Rights Demonstration

                   Office Of The NH Fire Marshal, Concord, NH

               
          HOST: UNH Young Americans For Liberty & Richard Olson Sr.

            HELPING YOUR NEIGHBOR SHOULD NOT BE A CRIME!!

This demonstration was to protest the NH State Fire Marshall Office for their 11/7/09 felony's indictment's, punishable by 3-7 years imprisonment, of a good Samaritan for helping homeowners during the NH ice storm state of emergency.

This vendetta by the Fire Marshall's office is retribution for the stalking charges and arrest, during the ice storm, of their chief investigator Mark Hilbert by a homeowner whom had beckoned this good Samaritan. There was no harm or damage caused to anyone or anything by this home homeowner or the good Samaritan. The main breaker had been accidentally left on while the homeowners generator was running. Out of hundred's of similar reports the Fire Marshall's Office received from around the state during the ice storm, this good Samaritan was singled out and prosecuted. This Good Samaritan is fighting this alone with finance's having been exhausted and facing a long prison term.
This good Samaritan is a activist and the creator of the widely controversial LFOD rights & liberty rally. He has also long been an out spoken critic with the filing of numerous complaints in regard to home owner rights violations perpetrated by the officers of the Fire Marshall's Office.

To call with complaint in regard to this vendetta and felony charges:
John Barthelmes Dept. Of Safety Commissioner 603-271-2791
William Deghan Fire Marshal Dept. Of Safety 603-223-4289 FMO@DOS.NH.GOV

Related News Article, NH Insider:
http://www.nhinsider.com/nhigb/2009/11/23/nh-dos-employee-uses-state-authority-and-treasury-for-person.html

For more info: Richard Olson Sr.  rholson@myfairpoint.net

Comments

[Stacy Roberts]

I send compliments to the UNH Young American's for Liberty and Mr. Olson for their common decency in doing this demonstration on the 19th of January. The Fire Marshal should be ashamed of him self supporting this obvious act of revenge. It is so ridiculous putting people through this non sense over a good deed. It sends the wrong signal on the behalf of Fire men every where. SHAME,SHAME,SHAME ON YOU !!!

[Joan Bastk]

Thank you to all who were able to attend this event. The spirit and community of NH's Live Free or Die peoples never fail to stand behind their own.
SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on the Fire Marshal who would do such a thing to a good samaritan.

[David Baillie]

It is so sad to see that even in Liberty-loving NH, there are still corrupt officials that use the system against the common person who is merely intent on being helpful to his fellow citizen.

I graciously and enthusiastically applaud Mr. Holson and crew for doing the right thing. I sincerely hope that the establishment takes note and ceases its idiotic persecution of this Good Samaritan.

[Rick_Olson]

TO SKEPTICAL READERS: During the ice storms of December 2008, upwards of 400,000 households were without power for over a week. PSNH, caught flatfooted and unprepared for this ice storm, undertook the arduous task of power restoration. Linemen were brought in from all over the United States and Governor John Lynch declared a "State of Emergency". For those us who restored immediately, we witnessed an inundation of the media coverage chronicling the anger, desperation and frustration expressed that PSNH was "unresponsive", only exacerbated by the prolonged period of time people were without power.

These circumstances compounded by a perceived lack communication by PSNH, left people on their own to seek solutions. Countless thousands of homeowners, cold, suffering and exhausted from being without power took matters into their own hands to alleviate the suffering brought on by this crisis. Many hooked up their own generators in order to restore temporary power to their homes until PSNH could restore the lines. Certainly, many people incorrectly hooked up their generators and likely caused countless back feeds onto the grid. While this is a very dangerous situation for line workers, it is neither unexpected nor unanticipated. I am certain that there were literally thousands of back feeds found on the lines.

Those People who hooked up their generators incorrectly did not do so absent any degree of malice or specific intent to break laws. People simply acted in the interest of their survival, subsequent to PSNH's systemic lack of candor or responsiveness regarding when power would actually be restored.

In four weeks, Jean Michael Coutu of Jaffrey will be going to trial in Cheshire County Superior Court, charged with two felonies. The indictments are stem from allegations of the State Fire Marshall's office accusing Coutu of hooking up this generator for his neighbor. How is it that Coutu is the only person in the state to charged with this offense? Moreover, evidence existing supports the assertion that Coutu did not do the hook up, but another person did so.

Coutu is an organizer and founder of the Annual "Live Free or Die" Celebration held annually in Jaffrey, and is a venue that many charge is highly political in nature. For the last four years, the town of Jaffrey and its officials have frequently and continuously engaged in a series of actions, conduct and behavior couched in the context of zoning and ordinance enforcement that might lead an ordinary person to conclude that Coutu and other organizers of the event are being harassed under the color of town authority. These charges follow on the heels of the Fire Marshall's Office Chief Investigator Mark Hilbert's arrest on stalking charges brought by the owner of the home who they allege was the subject of this back feed incident. The Fire Marshall's Office accuses Coutu of hooking up this generator.

Given these circumstances and chain of events, reasonable people can easily conclude this is not only a malicious prosecution, but is politically motivated and in retribution from the Fire Marshalls Office.

[Stand And Unite]

If the fire marshal doesn't get the state to drop these charges right a way, I am going to make it a personal mission of mine to public humiliate this fool.

Deghan, you are weak, you are insecure, you are envious, you are jealous and you WILL live the rest of your life wishing and hoping that you could be half the man that Jean Coutu is!

[Kurt]

I agree with Stand and Unite commenter, Mr. Deghan sure isn't the picture of "hero" we want "our" firefighters to be... he's obviously on a vendetta and he is abusing his neighbor with force and violence. Shame in him s right. It's time for him to get fired... now! I'm forced to pay taxes for THIS crap? I'm witholding his portion of my taxes this year.

[Richard Olson Sr]

With the state having so many budget problems, I fail to see why the State and County are wasting tax payers' money on this effort.
Our demonstration in Concord did bring to light how much the state Government is spending on new, lavish buildings and grounds for DOT and the Dept of Safety. I am glad we did this because it gave me an opportunity to see that the state employees have the wrong idea of "Live Free o Die".
I am 69 but I am not dead yet! Mike is a genuine New hampshire native that is willing to help a neighbor in need without looking for anything in return. His Mom is also disgusted with the Fire Marshall's actions.
In closing, I say FIRE THE MARSHALL & HIS INSPECTOR!
DICK OLSON

[Thom]

This is total insanity. During the ice storm, I lived in Fitzwilliam and was without power for 14 days. A neighbor of mine, out of the goodness of his heart, supplied my house with a single line to get my furnace going, as the baseboard water pipes in some of the room shad beguin to freeze and split.

This is a felony!?!?? This is more like people helping people, because WE are OUR OWN first line of defense in an emergency...

[Victoria]

This is a completely a waste of valuable time that the Fire Marshall is wasting on both the Judicial System and in doing his job. It was an honest mistake that apparrently a lot of people had made and he just focused in on one person to prosecute - SERIOUSLY? You have go to be kidding - he should be fired and repremanded for creating a big problem over something that didn't cause any harm to anyone.

[Able]

Well this will add impetus to the already mounting swing of the pendulum (as was shown in taxachusetts this past week). If John Lynch does not step up and reign in his subordinates, his reelection will be all the less likely. Let us hope for a mostly libertarian leaning republican retake of the state government. I do think that stepping up and doing the right thing in this slice of corruption would swing a few votes toward Lynch. You all must know the lack of scrutiny is what has empowered this evil use of government. Take back your power, no matter what level of government they will abuse your or your neighbors with it!

[Fellow NH citizen]

It is so troublesome to know that something this twisted and ludicrous could happen in a small NH town like Jaffrey. Jean is obviously being singled out from thousands of others who have either done the same thing, or would without a second thought.

My whole life I’ve been thankful to live in a small NH town where neighbors help each other and the community comes together to celebrate, to show support, or help each other out in times of need. Jean helping his neighbor is just a typical story of someone helping their neighbor. The times during and proceeding the ice storm were desperate. Some of my family was without power or heat for almost a month, and were forced to temporarily move out of their homes. It was a real mess, to tell those of you who did not witness it. I’m sure that there were thousands of instances where rules were slightly bent in order to provide help to those who needed it. I thank all of you who went out of their way, and continue to go out of your way to help your friends and neighbors. That is the NH way.

Prosecuting Jean would be the same as prosecuting any of us for just doing what’s right.

[Kris]

I have no idea what the marshall thinks he will gain by continuing this witch hunt! Seriously, how can one man think he is so justified when it is so obvious to everyone around him that he is being a pompous ass! I'm sure this isn't the attention the marshall wanted. The town of Jaffery will continue to support Jean Coutu and all its neighbors in times of need. The spirit of this country is to help your fellow american, not to throw a tantrum and prosecute them!

[Jim M]

I find it very ironic how the apparent Vendetta continues against Jean Michael Coutu. Who was injured in this incident during a state emergency? Was any malice involved with this incident during the state of emergency? Reading into some history and background of this incident, it appears to me that this has been turned into a personnel vendetta and an abuse of power may very well be taking place.

Respectfully,
Jim M

[Kath]

The inspectors at the Fire Marshall's office are in the wrong job. They need to be in Washington where business as usual is name calling, lies, lies, and more lies, childish back-biting and daily devotion to vendettas. They would fit right in with the DC crowd because they sit back and play while collecting every cent the tax payers have.

I would bet that the job description of each one of these state workers DOES NOT contain the words, Power, Punishment, and Personal attacks. I would bet that there may be some words like: Positive attitude, honesty, and willing to help others!!

I wish we could vote them out of office too!!!!!

[Ron Tyler]

January 28, 2010

I’m one to reach a settlement peacefully. Mr. Hilbert, Mr. Deghan and Mr. Barthelmanes should publicly apologize to Jean Coutu. These men should also pay Mr. Coutu expense’s incurred, with their own money. Once the trial starts, all bets are off.

Jean Coutu has many remedies, suing is one of them. There is no statute of limitations on civil rights violations. This is a civil rights violation if there ever was one. If the first paragraph is ineffective, Jean and his supporters could petition the Governor and the Executive Council to fire Hilbert, Deghan and Barthelmanes. Fired, not resign, deny them of pensions. Read: Article, 8 of the State Constitution. Very evident, Mr. Barthelmanes is not in control of the Department of Safety and the employees within. The county attorney can be removed by the ballot box also. Remember the strength of the ballot box! If the presiding judge on this case, knowing all the facts, should be removed.

Is the installer a man, or a scumbag? Knowingly, letting an innocent human being put in a cage for an action (a crime wasn’t committed), that he committed, is disgraceful. If the installer doesn’t come forward, smear his name far and wide.

To all of Jean’s supporters, while demonstrating, spread the word “nullification”. Letters to the editor, placards, whatever it takes, spread the word. Hopefully a juror will notice and understand the meaning. Nullification-Nullification

Keep time and places posted, I’ll be there.
Ron Tyler

[Jean Coutu]

The homeowner told the investigator I had come by after it had been installed by the individual she purchased the generator from during the storm & I had advised her to leave her main off. When the investigator followed her around town the following day calling her a liar he was arrested then had me arrested in retribution. She provided the court a deposition along with the invoices & processed check of the individual who installed it & charges were eventually dropped.