1 post tagged “oakland official under fire for possibly undermining raids”
OAKLAND, Calif. -- A top level official in Oakland city government is under investigation for possibly interfering with Tuesday’s high-profile "Operation Nutcracker" raids aimed at dismantling the city’s violent Acorn street gangDeborah Edgerly is Oakland's city administrator. Sources said she could be out of a job depending on the results of the city's investigation.On Wednesday, KTVU Channel 2 obtained police documents which show that officers were investigating a William Lovan as part of operation nutcracker. Lovan is Edgerly’s nephew.According to a police report dated June 7, officers assigned to Operation Nutcracker were outside an Oakland liquor store on the 1200 block of Market Street.The officers noticed a gun inside a car driven by 27-year-old Lovan. The report says Edgerly arrived on scene soon thereafter and told officers Lovan was her nephew and that she wanted to know why his car was being towed.Police informed Edgerly that they were not allowed to explain and, according to the report, she told the officers she was going to contact internal affairs regarding the matter.Lovan was not taken into custody outside the liquor store on June 7, but he was reportedly one of the 34 suspected gang members arrested in raids held Tuesday.Police say they continue to search for other gang members as part of Operation Nutcracker. Whether or not Edgerly compromised the ongoing investigation in any manner is under review.Oakland Police Chief Wayne Tucker met behind closed doors at City Hall with Mayor Ron Dellums and attorneys Wednesday to discuss City Administrator Edgerly."This information was developed as a result of the investigation that has been ongoing," explained Police Chief Tucker.Tuesday, Oakland police arrested dozens of suspected Acorn gang members in Operation Nutcracker. KTVU asked the police chief whether Edgerly might have compromised the investigation."In this case the material that you've come in contact with is one of those issues. We've discussed it with the mayor, we've discussed it with counsel and again on advice of counsel the best thing for us to do is try to get through this and continue the investigation," said Police Tucker.Mayor Dellums met with Edgerly Wednesday morning, but she was not in her office all afternoon."We're aware of the allegations. We take them very seriously. They're very serious allegations, and as we speak, we're looking into them," said Mayor Dellums. When asked if Edgerly still had her job, the mayor replied "That is to be determined."SOURCE:KTUV CHANNEL 2 NEWS
