Facebook video posted at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday shows Fresno City Council President Miguel Arias in a shouting match with conservative activist Ben Bergquam.
The video also shows Arias pushing a man accompanying Bergquam, who is attempting to question Arias about COVID-19 business restrictions on the stairs outside his downtown Fresno apartment.
Listen to this article:
[rlic_related_post_one]
Arias said he was calling Fresno police at one point during the dust-up.
Following the incident, Arias received three misdemeanor battery citations. Arias said he planned to use online threats made against him as his legal defense.
Arias: Berqguam ‘Crossed the Line’
Arias said Tuesday evening after the incident that by coming to his home, Bergquam “crossed the line.”
“They came to my home, where my kids were taking a nap on the couch. It was clear to me a mob mentality was taking place, and I am not going to allow it.” — Miguel Arias
He said the video didn’t convey the reality of the situation: 10 to 15 protesters “shouting demands” and refusing to leave after he declined Bergquam’s request for an interview.
“They came to my home, where my kids were taking a nap on the couch,” Arias said. “It was clear to me a mob mentality was taking place, and I am not going to allow it.”
Arias described Bergquam as “a paid activist who got what he wanted — a viral video.”
The councilman said his pushing of a man accompanying Bergquam “was a reaction to him putting his hands on me.”
Going through his mind the whole time, Arias said, was “these are folks who have made threats in the past and are very vocal supporters of the Second Amendment and could potentially have been carrying concealed weapons.”
Asked how city leaders might calm the nerves of residents worrying about the pandemic and its devastating effects on local businesses, Arias said, “Just realize that we’re all trying to do the best we can to move our city forward.”
Arias also said that the people responsible for radio ads critical of how Arias and Mayor Lee Brand have led the response to COVID-19 are whipping some people into a dangerous frenzy.
“Right now, there is risk of physical attacks on us and our families,” Arias said.
Police Dispatched to Protect Councilmembers
Arias said that police officers were sent to the residences of all councilmembers and the mayor following the incident.
Councilman Mike Karbassi said that, in addition, police chief Andy Hall called all the councilmembers.
KSEE-24 news anchor Alexan Balekian tweeted a photo Tuesday evening of a police cruiser parked at Chavez’s home.
Brand’s spokesman issued a statement at 8:22 p.m. Tuesday saying the mayor had a “peaceful discussion” with a group of people protesting shelter-in-place orders.
“A group of 20-25 people protesting the City’s shelter in place orders came to my house this evening,” Brand said. “When they arrived, I went out to answer their questions and we had a peaceful discussion on my sidewalk. After 10 minutes, they left and I went back inside. I’m willing to talk with anybody who wants to have a civil conversation about the best way to keep our city safe and healthy.”
Bredefeld: ‘Completely Unacceptable’ to Go to Councilmember’s Home
Councilman Garry Bredefeld, a vehement critic of Brand and Arias, took to Facebook to voice his feelings after the confrontation.
“We’ve just been informed that protesters went to Council President Miguel Arias’s house — I can’t even begin to express the outrage I feel regarding this incident,” Bredefeld said in the Facebook post. “This is completely unacceptable and should never happen. While we can have disagreements politically and express different points of view, it completely crosses the line of safety, decency, and respect of personal and family boundaries. If any crimes were committed by these individuals, they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. This disturbing and outrageous incident must never, ever happen again!”
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email
Berqguam’s false intention to interview of the councilmen was as fake as his teeth.
He truly went there to get a emotive response to rile up his basket of deplorables.
Interesting an entirely different response when the media crew visited Mayor Lee Brand . The ufferebcevbetween a seasoned irofessional who knows how to calmly and professionally answer questions vs. An angry, hostile unprofessional with ni leadership skills.
This isn’t Miguel’s first hostile encounter he has several well documented going back to City of Mendota, to hus horrific track record at FUSD .
The problem is Aruas continues to get a free pass for his poor behavior.
Sooner or later his corrupt slight of hand and bigoted bias toward fresno will service.
He took pleasure in nearly bankrupting several independent businesses. The word is Arias is no longer welcome at several business establishments.
I don’t know why Berqguam and his buddies weren’t cited by the Fresno Police Department for trespassing and disorderly conduct once they started banging on Miguel Arias’ front door and refusing to leave hence causing a disturbance and scaring his family. That’s just the lazy Fresno Police Department at its finest neither protecting or serving. I support Miguel Arias when it comes to protecting ones family.
The video shows he knocked on the door not ” banged”. Furthermore there is a security camera and peephole why open the door if one is frightened or concerned for his life.
Reviewing the video, Miguel started assaulting Ben as he was ordering him to leave. There is witnesses at the bottom of the stairway . Arias should rid his hostile and angry attitude. It has no place in Fresno.
Miguel’s anger issues go back several years and are not difficult to find. Sadly, he hasn’t contributed much to fresno communuty nor has his family mostly reside in Mendota. Most projects were started years back by Oliver Baines. Arias just doesn’t contribute or represent the people of Fresno with horrible communication skills.
It shoukd get interesting when his buddy Dyer is sworn in. You will get to experience Arias crumble into his raging lunatic rants.
Bob
May 12, 2020 at 7:25 pm
Berqguam’s false intention to interview of the councilmen was as fake as his teeth.
He truly went there to get a emotive response to rile up his basket of deplorables.
Bill Thacker
May 31, 2020 at 8:50 pm
Interesting an entirely different response when the media crew visited Mayor Lee Brand . The ufferebcevbetween a seasoned irofessional who knows how to calmly and professionally answer questions vs. An angry, hostile unprofessional with ni leadership skills.
This isn’t Miguel’s first hostile encounter he has several well documented going back to City of Mendota, to hus horrific track record at FUSD .
The problem is Aruas continues to get a free pass for his poor behavior.
Sooner or later his corrupt slight of hand and bigoted bias toward fresno will service.
He took pleasure in nearly bankrupting several independent businesses. The word is Arias is no longer welcome at several business establishments.
Andyfab
May 13, 2020 at 10:09 pm
I don’t know why Berqguam and his buddies weren’t cited by the Fresno Police Department for trespassing and disorderly conduct once they started banging on Miguel Arias’ front door and refusing to leave hence causing a disturbance and scaring his family. That’s just the lazy Fresno Police Department at its finest neither protecting or serving. I support Miguel Arias when it comes to protecting ones family.
Bill Thacker
May 31, 2020 at 9:06 pm
The video shows he knocked on the door not ” banged”. Furthermore there is a security camera and peephole why open the door if one is frightened or concerned for his life.
Reviewing the video, Miguel started assaulting Ben as he was ordering him to leave. There is witnesses at the bottom of the stairway . Arias should rid his hostile and angry attitude. It has no place in Fresno.
Miguel’s anger issues go back several years and are not difficult to find. Sadly, he hasn’t contributed much to fresno communuty nor has his family mostly reside in Mendota. Most projects were started years back by Oliver Baines. Arias just doesn’t contribute or represent the people of Fresno with horrible communication skills.
It shoukd get interesting when his buddy Dyer is sworn in. You will get to experience Arias crumble into his raging lunatic rants.