by Michael J. Marino
Heated controversy has ensued following a group of neighbors from Dorothy Lane in the Billings Heights speaking out about a problematic property on their street last month. Specifically, the buzz surrounded Chief of Police Rich St. John’s personal response to the situation.
In a nutshell, St. John wrote in a letter to the neighbors that while he can sympathize with their concerns and wants to resolve the issue as soon as possible, he stated “we (Billings Police Department) (BPD) must do so within the constraints of the law.” He further wrote the problem neighbor “still has rights and is entitled to due process.”
The primary complainants are Wes and Amber Dunn of the 800-block of Dorothy Lane, according to St. John’s letter. He said “the police department has become the focus of their anger,” which has resulted in the Dunn’s accusing BPD of intentionally disregarding their calls.
St. John made clear that he believes those accusations are “baseless and without merit,” citing the fact that officers have responded to Dorothy Lane thirty-eight times in 2022 alone. He also stated, “What they (the complainants) expect this Department to do in response to their calls is most times unrealistic and illegal.” (To read St. John’s entire letter, see page XX.)
Amber Dunn spoke during the public comment period at the September 6 City Council meeting, stating, “I’d like to apologize to each and every one of you for a giant waste of time, with unfounded and fraudulent information that was given to you just last week. I am appalled,” she said, calling the information in St. John’s letter “blatant lies,” given to council members only to “waste [their] time,” she said. Dunn told them that since she last saw the Council, she and her husband have had “property damage… assaults… disorderly conduct, for a second time; threats [made] on the night of the property damage.” Dunn reported she waited for an hour and a half for law enforcement to arrive, while she and her family “sat outside scared to death…”
“We are being impacted, and this (St. John’s letter) is all a bunch of crap,” said Dunn.
Click HERE to Read Entire Story
