More than a year ago, a 30-year-old mixed race Black man named Brian Statler was gunned down by two Inglewood Police Department officers at the Scientology church in that Los Angeles suburb, reportedly after he had showed up with a “samurai sword.”
The city of Inglewood has never said anything more about the March 27, 2019 incident other than Statler’s name and age, and the Los Angeles Times is characteristically uninterested in a story involving Scientology, even though it also involves a Black man being killed by police.
What actually happened that day? Neither the city of Inglewood nor Scientology is saying anything about it. And in order to get some answers, Statler’s parents and his 3-year-old daughter have filed a lawsuit against the city. An amended complaint was filed in March, and in July Brian’s sister Krystle gave us some new details about the case, confirming that Brian had gone to the Scientology org in order to see Decery Capponi, the mother of his child who worked at the church. Krystle says that Capponi was kept out of sight and did not see Brian during the incident.
We still have a lot of questions about Statler’s death, and we’ve found it interesting that Scientology itself has not tried to make hay from it. Normally, Scientology would be quick to blame Leah Remini for such a tragedy, and we find it curious that they haven’t.
Checking the docket yesterday, we noticed something we hadn’t seen before — a protective order instructing the city to turn over, finally, some answers about what happened that day, with the agreement that the Statler family keeps that information strictly confidential.
Among the documents that Inglewood has agreed to turn over is…
— A 215-page incident report
— Photos of Statler’s “weapons recovered from the incident location.”
— A 3-page crime lab forensics biology report.
— “Surveillance video depicting the front exterior of the Church of Scientology” prior to the event.
Well, it only took a year and a half, a lawsuit, and the promise of confidentiality before the city of Inglewood finally started producing some information about what happened that day.
The docket also indicates that the family has been given permission by the court to submit changes to its amended complaint, and they have until September 4 to do it. So we’ll be looking to see if they’ve added new allegations after finally getting access to what the city has been keeping under wraps.
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Bonus items from our tipsters
Another billion-year contract…
An example of child abuse in Tampa…
Give money, give money, give, give, give!
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“I’ve been working on a clear cut statement of what are the beliefs of Scientology. It will be under survey. I am working on the Scientologists Hat. Without such a statement it is hard to get word of mouth. We are well into a Messianic period on Earth. Progress has been made on this. I can write, I think, a ‘Book of Fate.’ I have also made an advance in research on the character and handling of mental mass. Some weeks ago I conceived we did not know all there was to know about high and lo TAs and have suddenly made big progress. The answer was unexpectedly simple and includes auditing over out suppressed ruds that one doesn’t suspect are out! We just don’t pay enough attention to it. Big answers are very basic. So I feel cheerful.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 17, 1971
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“Who cares about these newbies if they buy such things as Justin Craig? Scientology was for the intelligent, not for tweety sweeties.”
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“Hubbardese was definitely inspired by ‘Newspeak,’ in my opinion. All cults engage in it to some degree.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Motion for reconsideration denied on August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021. Plaintiffs granted permission to file changes to amended complaint by Sept 4.
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!
Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] ‘Scientology and the Aftermath’ participants send in their tributes as series is set to end
[TWO years ago] The Garcias won’t go down without a fight: Filing appeal of Scientology’s ‘arbitration’ farce
[THREE years ago] Celebrity battle lines: Michael Peña’s wife asks Scientologists to ‘Stand with Daniel Masterson’
[FOUR years ago] A rare gem from 1968: When the Daily Mail tracked down L. Ron Hubbard in Tunisia
[FIVE years ago] Once shy about the Internet, Scientology is now oversharing on social media
[SIX years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The apocalypse is here, and it is ideal
[SEVEN years ago] SCIENTOLOGY SUPER POWER IS COMING: OCTOBER 6!
[EIGHT years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology — 2012 Edition!
[NINE years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 20: Trey Parker and Matt Stone
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,032 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,536 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,056 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,076 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 967 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,274 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,142 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,916 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,720 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,036 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,602 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,521 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,689 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,270 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,531 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,569 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,282 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,807 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,337 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,897 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,037 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,357 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,212 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,331 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,687 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,990 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,096 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,498 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,370 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,953 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,448 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,702 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,811 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 17, 2020 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 14 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
