The Clearwater Police department arrested a local man yesterday for damaging several of Scientology’s surveillance cams with a laser while he was on a “Cult City Tours” walking tour on February 26.
Robert Charles Harris, 76, was booked on felony criminal mischief and released on $2,000 bond. No court date has yet been set.
According to the police complaint, Harris damaged six different cameras at Scientology buildings in downtown Clearwater located on Cleveland Street and Fort Harrison Avenue, including two cameras at the Flag Building, also known as the Super Power Building. The laser’s beam caused permanent damage to the cameras, the church said, totaling $2,091.46 in damages.
Police figured out that the laser was pointed by Harris when they looked at Scientology’s surveillance footage and watched Harris get into his car, spotting his license plate.
Officer Brittani Berg went to Harris’s home yesterday to show him the footage, according to her report.
“The defendant was interviewed at his home and audio recorded. The defendant admitted to the offenses. He stated he was saying hello to the people of Scientology. He was shown the videos and he stated that was him on the video,” the report states.
“I’m not going to fight the fact I did it,” Harris told the Tampa Bay Times. “I will fight the fact I was not purposefully trying to hurt the cameras.”
We’re reaching out to Scientology for a reaction, as well as Cult City Tours operator Ted Reinhard.
UPDATE: We just received this message from Ted Reinhard…
“Nothing to say really. We encourage the respect of private property on our tours (even mention it twice in our terms & conditions). But it’s up to the individual, and since we’re in public spaces (sidewalks), there’s nothing we can do to limit or force action or inaction.”
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“I’m not down on religion. I believe in religion, except I don’t believe in limited religion. If we’re going to have two gods let’s worship two gods, that’s all. If we’ve got to have worship of gods, let’s at least worship the minimum number allowable in this universe. Now, let’s not fool around with this religion, tell people what they can’t do with religion and what they can do with religion. We’ve just got religion — if we’re going to have religion, then let’s be honest with it and look and see and find this to be the case: that everybody who starts worshiping one god and one god only, and shaping his pathway straight toward one god and only one god and good, and it’s good, and that’s all we can have anything to do with is good, winds up bad. Ever know any minister’s sons?” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 23, 1953
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“Had a good break today on Research. Cracked why one can’t be audited after exteriorization so one can. Will push OT ability up out of sight. I do get my own hats worn despite randomity!” — The Commodore, March 23, 1970
“Isn’t science fiction surely just science that hasn’t yet been developed, discovered and refined? Almost all of the technology we take for granted now has appeared in some form or another in sci-fi works before, and it’s definitely the case that sci-fi writers have been critical to introducing the ideas that inspire scientists to create amazing things. Some of the sci-fi writers were originally physicists, engineers and industrial chemists. Therefore, is it no surprise that the development of spirituality from being a series of myths and monsters into a systematised and evidence-based approach should have been made by a sci-fi writer? I would say it is because of, and not in spite of, that.”
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1996: An excerpt posted from the tech dictionary this week, describing a disease invented by LRH. “METALOSIS, osis. Greek. action; process, condition abnormal or disease condition caused by . METAL, any of a large group of substances (as bronze steel) that typically show a characteristic luster, are good conductors of electricity and heat, are opaque,can be fused or are usually malleable and ductile. A psychosomatic condition caused by the the interaction of body electric flows and magnetic and other fields of metal. The effects take a long time to occur. Engrams are formed. METALOSIS RUNDOWN. The procedure used in expanded Dianetics to cure metalosis.”
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“I remember growing up in the 60’s, and this idea that all of our problems were due to suppressed subconscious desires or traumatic incidents we had ‘forgotten,’ and if some psych could make us remember we would be miraculously whole and normal again like Liz Taylor, was the concept that was being pushed on everyone. Hubbard just took the bullshit and ran with it.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson arraigned Jan 20. Next conf to set prelim, March 24.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed to April 13.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Charged in Brooklyn federal court on Feb 4. Arraigned on Feb 9. Pretrial conference set for Apr 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.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court denied Dec 11.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration. June 7: Status conference.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 24.
Concluded litigation:
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— 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.
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SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. 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 a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] The wealthy donors keeping Scientology in business, New Year’s 2020 edition
[TWO years ago] Carol Es on 20 years in Scientology: ‘You’re programmed to think emotions are weak’
[THREE years ago] Stop interacting with Scientology’s Internet trolls. Here’s proof it can backfire on you badly.
[FOUR years ago] State investigators fired for blowing the whistle on Scientology’s rehabs get hearing in Denver
[FIVE years ago] Scientology attorney Bert Deixler takes another swing at Karen de la Carriere
[SIX years ago] ‘Going Clear’: Mike Rinder helps us understand a Scientology document that will creep you out
[SEVEN years ago] Three weeks out of Scientology: Fresh information from a ‘blown’ Sea Org member
[EIGHT years ago] Blood Brother Ron: Starting Out Life on the Wrong Blackfoot
[NINE years ago] Scientology on the High Seas: Posing as Archaeology Students for the Sardinians
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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 2,249 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,753 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,273 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,293 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,184 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,491 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,359 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,133 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,463 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,937 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,253 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,819 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,738 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,906 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,487 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,748 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,786 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,499 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,024 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 379 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,554 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,105 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,254 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,574 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,429 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,548 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,904 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,207 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,313 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,715 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,587 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,170 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,665 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,919 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,028 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 23, 2021 at 15:47
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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, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), 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, 15 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
