Quartzsite, Arizona in an uproar, in 'state of emergency' due to video on YouTube

by Amanda Lee Myers, Associated Press
Arizona Daily Star
Jul. 13, 2011

The Western Arizona town of Quartzsite was in a state of upheaval Monday after the Town Council ousted the mayor from power and declared a state of emergency, all because of an online video that shows a woman being arrested.

Mayor Ed Foster told The Associated Press on Monday that the Town Council held a last-minute meeting that was closed to the public Sunday night, declaring a state of emergency in the town of 3,600 just east of the California city of Blythe.

The council's declaration put Police Chief Jeff Gilbert in charge, making Foster the "deputy chief executive of nothing right now," he said. It also allows the five-member council to meet without public notice and suspend all public comment at the meetings until the members declare the state of emergency over.

"I'm going to tell you frankly, this council is out of control," Foster said. "The chief has been out of control for some time, and I've asked the state government to help a number of times," to no avail.

Foster described the government and Gilbert as corrupt and abusive of their power, and said all their recent actions are frantic efforts to cover up millions of dollars lining some of their pockets.

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