No Charges Filed After Violence at Shasta County Board Meeting
Christian Gardinier, who was punched, blamed the act of violence on an atmosphere cultivated by the current Board majority. The man who punched him said he behaved reflexively as a result of PTSD.
On Tuesday August 20 at 11:30 am the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of an assault and battery at the Board of Supervisors meeting.
The incident occurred right after senior citizen Thomas Hildebrand spoke to the Board. When Hildebrand turned to leave the dais he could be seen speaking briefly with another senior public speaker, Christian Gardinier. As they stood, face to face, Gardinier put his hand on Hildebrand’s shoulder, appearing to explain something to him.
Then, as witnessed by Shasta Scout’s reporter, Hildebrand punched Gardinier in the stomach with his closed right fist. There were audible gasps from the room in response and the county’s armed private security immediately moved forward. Board Chair Kevin Crye called a five-minute recess while security escorted Hildebrand from the room.
When the meeting reopened, Crye made no mention of the incident. He told Shasta Scout today, August 22, that he was still trying to take in what had happened.
“The last time I was in the room when someone was punched,” Crye said, “was probably in high school.”
Crye told Shasta Scout today that there is “never a place for violence, especially in a board of supervisors meeting.”
Tim Mapes, a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office, said officers were called to the incident by county staff.
“Arriving deputies contacted the victim,” Mapes said, “who indicated they did not want to pursue charges against the other involved party. The involved party was no longer on scene and was not contacted.”
The victim, a retired social worker, told Shasta Scout yesterday that Hildebrand “packed a solid fist punch to my stomach” which he said he was still sore from today.
Gardinier said he blames “confusion and misunderstanding” for the incident, saying he and Hildebrand, who are on opposite sides of the political divide, have had “very civil conversations in the past.”
Moments before the punch, Gardinier said Hildebrand had heard him laughing with the security guard and briefly turned from the dais to tell him angrily, “I’ll see you outside.”
Just before being punched, Gardinier explained, he had put his hand on Hildebrand’s shoulder as he attempted to explain that he was not laughing at him.
“I wanted him to know that I was sorry for the misunderstanding and that I was laughing at something that the security guard had said, not at Thomas. But his quick punch beat me to it.”
Crye emphasized while speaking to Shasta Scout today that it’s important for people to realize that laying hands on another person can elicit a reaction. He connected Shasta Scout with Hildebrand, who said he’s a Vietnam veteran who continues to suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from his time in combat. Hildebrand said the punch was reflexive, an involuntary response to Gardinier putting his hand on his shoulder.
“I’m not making excuses,” Hildebrand said. “But I just reacted.”
Hildebrand explained that when Gardinier wanted to shake his hand, he refused to do so because he was angry that Gardinier’s talking had interrupted his two minutes of public comment.
“He interrupted my speech, my freedom of speech . . . (and then) I refused to shake hands with him . . . I didn’t feel like shaking hands with some guy that didn’t give me my two minutes. And then all of a sudden I felt a hand on my shoulder and I reacted.”
“Most of the time you don’t live if you don’t make an instant decision,” Hildebrand said, appearing to reference a lesson he learned in combat.
He told Shasta Scout he wished he hadn’t punched Gardinier and that he has no animosity towards him.
“Next time we see each other we can talk,” Hildebrand said.
Sheriff’s Office PIO Mapes said no one sought medical attention after the incident and no one was arrested. The incident remains under investigation, Mapes said.
According to Gardinier, Sheriff’s officers provided him with a case number for the investigation and told him he has up to ninety days to decide whether to press charges. He emphasized that he has no intent of doing so, saying he hopes he can continue to have more civil conversations with Hildebrand as he has in the past.
Instead of blaming Thomas, Gardinier blamed the current Board majority for the incident, saying they have grown and cultivated an “extreme political culture of normalizing misogyny, racism, sexism, insolence, and threats of violence.”
“When people get too drunk on cultism, they become contagious and dangerous,” Gardinier said, emphasizing his concern that things could become volatile in Shasta County if former President Donald Trump loses the presidential election in November.
Both Hildebrand and Gardinier are frequent speakers at County Board and Election Commission meetings. Hildebrand often discusses perceived election fraud while Gardenier usually expresses his concerns about the current Board majority – which he refers to as the “JCK Cartel.”
His frequent vocal commentary from the chamber floor have led to rebukes from the Board chair over recent months.
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Straight out of the gate, let me just say I do not condone violence and Thomas’ actions were not acceptable in civil society.
At the same time, we have an individual who insists on commandeering the meetings when he sees fit and disrupts, disturbs, and impedes the meetings on a regular basis. Shouldn’t this be condemned, too?
I’ve had my own dealings with this individual and he insists on hassling me for my political views and who I choose to support whenever I see him. I’ve tried to change/lighten the subject but he insists on his reeducation shtick. Now I don’t even engage. I find his actions, intentions, and manner to be extremely intrusive and offensive. Too bad perpetual disrupters cannot be banned for a period of time. It’s a real drag and a waste of taxpayer money to have to deal with infantile and entitled behaviour.
Mr. Gardinier should at least consider filing a restraining order against Mr. Hildebrand. PTSD or not, Mr. Hildebrand showed that perhaps he should stay away from the SCBOS mettings for a while.
Christian Gardinier has been heckling public speakers at the county board meetings for months. He frequently focuses his attention on female speakers. Screaming at them and waiving signs in their face. The Supervisors have warned him numerous times. I think no one should be surprised when he heckled the wrong victim and also laid hands on them that they would react physically.
I agree with you. I watched the meeting on line. I saw Gardinier actually walking up behind him while he was speaking! He was yelling and waving his hands. That was really creepy to see. Here you are exercising your God Given Right to free speech and someone is yelling at you behind your back and charging toward you. Why is he allowed to attend the meetings with this threatening behavior?
Concerned: There was no yelling or charging. I was there.
I saw him coming up behind the speaker. I heard him speaking but it was inaudible. He obviously interrupted the speaker because the speaker turned around and walked toward him. Chairman Crye called the speaker back to the microphone. Why does Gardinier have the right to interrupt others who are speaking? Who does that? Then he lays hands on the man! A bit much in my opinion. As I said earlier Kindergarten rules: 1 Listen when other are speaking. 2. Do not touch other people.
Randy: I have not seen Gardinier screaming at any female speakers or waving signs in their faces. I’m at almost every Board meeting.
I suppose a close fist is just as dangerous as a semi automatic weapon! Let’s get rid of both LOL ! Has nothing to do with Trump supporters! When will this new born Uber Liberal news Paige grow up?
Something tells me Mr Hildebrand hasnt been in a situation where acting instantly was an imperative to prevent death in many decades. Those who have been stuck driving behind him on the highway probably agree.
“Putting your hands on someone is inexcusable.” CONCERNED (2024)
“Grab ’em by the pussy!” DJT (2005)
Vintage hypocrisy…
And, let’s allow concealed carry in the BOS Chambers, too… Lol.
Κοάλεμος…
By the way, just a question. Why are no reporters performing their due diligence, regarding a story that is floating around the streets, that an individual, perhaps the son of a well-known TV reporter, may have recently overdosed on Fentanyl and passed away while at Corky Harmon’s home?
This is a newsworthy story if true as it is a local health crisis affecting our citizens and might potentially involve a Board of Supervisors Candidate.
Fentanyl and its use have caused a nationwide crisis that is affecting individuals across all spectrums of life, regardless of their political viewpoints. Any related information regarding the tolls on society based on what Fentanyl use has caused should be provided to the public for the good of the public, regardless of the parties involved.
If this information is proven true, a question arises. Was this story secreted based on the fact that Corky Harmon is currently running for a seat on the Shasta County Board of Supervisors?
We certainly hope not and if this story is untrue it should fade and dissipate naturally like a vapor trail…
I am not surprised that this happened. The behavior of the recall Crye group constantly booing and badgering their fellow citizens during public comment, is outrageous. Putting your hands on someone is inexcusable especially if you have been heckling that person just minutes preceding. It is a shame that we have this happening in our community. I absolutely agree with Supervisor Crye this childish behavior from grown adults is a recipe for danger. People who cannot control themselves should not be attending public meetings. Gardiner here are two good rules that children learn in kindergarten: 1. Do not touch other people. 2. Listen when others are speaking.
Here’s a tip for MAGA. Violence is not okay. On the other hand, too many MAGA think their Ajudacated Rapist, 34 felony convicted criminal gives them the right to do so. What happened to Thomas is understandable.
I was really relieved that I didn’t get a gun pulled on me because Supervisor Jones, a liar, and dangerous gun nut who tried to make it legal to pack in supervisors’ meetings, along with Kelstorm, who states he packs everywhere he goes without a license have created an atmosphere were sexism, racism, misogyny and using county government as a lying MAGA propagation tool, have tuned the chambers into a MAGA Circirs, costing county taxpayers millions of dollars, increasing hate, anger and volitivity a risk to citizens. This is especially true when some citizens have PTSD. And that’s why I didn’t press charges. There is help for PTSD, and the V.A. has good treatment.
Here’s a tip for the JCK Cartel. With trigger-happy MAGA slowly understanding that the JCK Cartel is not going to be able to make what election liers Jones and Hobbs demand because they can’t anymore than turn Shasta County into the State Of Jefferson, it’s tie to put the Sheriffs back into the chambers before someone gets shot.
Another tip. The JCK Catel has given our local MAGA extremist years of time to spew propaganda; most of it is a million miles away from the board’s legal jurisdiction. The reason they do this is that the JCK Cartel are also MAGA extremists who are bound by law! All they can do is help citizens spew propaganda that only raises the temperature and wastes taxpayers’ millions in money. Solution? Follow the Agenda and restrict anything that is not within the legal jurisdiction of the board, just as the form citizens sign to speak clearly indicates it is a rule. It’s time the board follows the law.
Okay Bruce, if you say so.
As I have previously posted, the loved one of this man need to be sure that he doesn’t attend the BOS meetings and is supervised in public. Otherwise, they can help him with his future legal bills and visit him in jail on major holidays.
I don’t know why Gardenier is blaming the supervisors after he interrupted Hildebrand’s free speech.
And afterwards put his hand on Hildebrand’s shoulder. Hildebrand responds with a gut punch to Gardeneier.
Bless victim (kick sand in your face) Gardeneier without filing charges. 🤪
But it’s not the supervisors fault. It’s the two men.