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Residents say police accompanied city staff to remove flags at La Paz protests; speakers seek answers
Summary
Multiple residents told the council that a city worker accompanied by two uniformed officers asked protesters to remove flags at the La Paz and Marguerite corner and that officials did not identify the city employee or provide a legal basis. Speakers asked the council for clearer, two‑way communication and for follow up from staff and the sheriff's office.
Several Mission Viejo residents raised concerns during the public‑comment period on April 8 about recent midweek demonstrations at La Paz and Marguerite, telling the council that a city employee arrived with two uniformed officers and ordered volunteers to remove small flags without showing identification or citing a specific ordinance.
“He arrived with two uniformed police officers to tell the women... they needed to remove the flags. There was not a last name presented,” said Heidi Prescott, a resident who said she has attended the Wednesday gatherings. Carolyn Gatto described ongoing harassment of volunteers and asked why the two officers appeared to “unnerve two elderly women” instead of providing the protective presence speakers had requested at prior meetings.
Gatto said the women complied when the city worker cited a statute orally but did not provide a written citation. “Who thought it was necessary to deploy two officers that day to attempt to unnerve two elderly women?” she asked, and asked the council to investigate the circumstances and the decision to deploy officers in uniform.
Mayor Bob Reese and council members acknowledged the concern and asked staff to follow up. Councilmember Vasquez said she had heard different versions of the incident and requested staff connect with speakers to gather details. City staff did not provide an on‑the‑spot identification of the city worker or a legal citation during the meeting; multiple speakers requested the person's name and the rationale for the police presence.
Speakers emphasized civil‑liberties and safety balance: some asked the city to ensure two‑way, respectful communication when staff interact with protest organizers, and to supply a clear written basis for enforcement requests. The council asked staff to report back with additional information and to coordinate with the sheriff's office as needed.
