Please note: High Springs Herald links have been fixed, and more articles added...
This is a quick update to let Charlie Grapski's friends know he was moved to the jail infirmary today (Thursday) and there has been no word from Charlie about why. It was only when friends attempted to visit him during his 2-hour visitation period on Thursday evening that they were told Charlie was unavailable. Visiting hours at the infirmary are 12-3pm Fridays, so if he is returned to his cell tomorrow morning, he will lose his visitation time for this week.
Following is a collection of news reports and op-ed pieces that provide a historical background on the case. The Herald links were posted once previously, but the Alachua Post articles were not.
A Gainesville activist and friend of Charlie's wrote a Letter to the Editor that was published in the Gainesville Sun:
Grapski case an example of ‘Vendetta Justice?'
Letters to Charlie can be sent to: Charles Grapski, Alachua County Jail, 3333 NE 39th Ave., Gainesville FL 32609
The latest on Charlie Grapski in Alachua County Jail:
Thanksgiving week
Jail guards cut off the telephone as Charlie was attempting to speak to his attorney's paralegal about his case. He was then arbitrarily put on "suicide watch" by the watch commander and strapped to a chair in an isolation cell, even though he protested that he was not depressed or suicidal,.
Charlie said he had accidentally hit his head on a metal bench in his cell and had a bump on his head, but he later discovered that a report had been filed by a guard falsely stating that Charlie had been banging his head against the wall and was trying to hurt himself. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DELIBERATE ATTEMPT TO SET CHARLIE UP.
Charlie claims the guard who did this boasted that he listens in on his telephone conversations, including the legal consultations with his attorney Joe Little. The guard told Charlie "Joe Little isn't a lawyer, he's just a law professor" and made light of his criminal violation of Charlie's rights. He said the experience of being strapped to a restraining chair by the guards felt like a form of psychological torture.
When the shift changed and another guard took over, he released Charlie from solitary and allowed him to take a shower and return to the infirmary. When friends attempted to visit Charlie during his weekly visitation time (two hours total per week, on Thursday evening) they were told Charlie was in the infirmary and could not be visited.
Whether the guards who put Charlie in solitary, under suicide watch, were acting out of ignorance and incompetence, or under orders from someone to set Charlie up, is at this point unknown. What is clear is that there is a political purpose being served by Charlie's continued incarceration, and that Charlie's health and personal safety are in jeopardy so long as he is held in this jail.
The public officials responsible for safeguarding the rights of the accused in Alachua County Jail need to know we're watching, and we're concerned.
Contact information:
State Attorney William P. Cervone cervonew@SAO8.ORG 352-374-3670
State Attorney's Office website: http://sawww.co.alachua.fl.us/
Judge Phyllis Rosier
Alachua County Criminal Justice Center
220 S. Main Street Room A303
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 374-3606 (Phone)
(352) 264-7010 (Fax)
http://www.circuit8.org/...
Sheriff Sadie Darnell sheriffdarnell@alachuasheriff.org 352-367-4019
Alachua County Jail website: http://www.alachuasheriff.org/...
Governor Charlie Crist Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com 850-488-7146
Office of the Governor website: http://www.flgov.com/
See Charlie Grapski jailed since Oct. 12 with no bond for more on Charlie's current predicament.
Alachua Post online archives - Grapski files
ALACHUA POST - 2007
City of Alachua Press Release Disputed for Accuracy (M. Canney)
November 1, 2007
http://alachuapost.com/...
Update on Alachua`s Political Wrangling
March 18th, 2007
http://alachuapost.com/...
Call For Action-Citizens of Alachua (M. Canney)
March 3, 2007
http://alachuapost.com/...
Do we still have a democracy?
March 1st, 2007
http://alachuapost.com/...
Open Letter To Alachua Commissioners (M. Canney)
March 1st, 2007
http://alachuapost.com/...
Corruption Watch: Alachua Florida Must Reform (John Kusumi)
February 28, 2007
http://alachuapost.com/...
Grapski Press Release
February 26, 2007
http://alachuapost.com/...
Alachua politics get nasty: Ganging up on Grapski
February 20th, 2007
http://alachuapost.com/...
Formal Complaint filed on Police Chief in City of Alachua
February 19, 2007
http://alachuapost.com/...
Alachua Politics - In The News
February 15, 2007
http://alachuapost.com/...
Calderwood Orders Grapski Arrested
February 13, 2007
http://alachuapost.com/...
ALACHUA POST - 2006
Charges Against Grapski Dismissed
November 16, 2006
http://alachuapost.com/...
Grapski To Appear In Court Today
November 16, 2006
http://alachuapost.com/...
JURY NOW SEATED, TRIAL SET FOR THURSDAY 11-16-06
November 15, 2006
http://alachuapost.com/...
GRAPSKI TURNS DOWN STATE ATTORNEY`S SETTLEMENT OFFER
November 8, 2006
http://alachuapost.com/...
Grapski To Appear In Court Today
November 6, 2006
http://alachuapost.com/...
Watson Asked To Correct Resume
July 6th, 2006
http://alachuapost.com/...
Mayor of Alachua Files Breach of Peace Complaint Against Grapski
June 28, 2006
http://alachuapost.com/...
Open Letter To The Alachua City Commission (M. Canney)
June 21st, 2006
http://alachuapost.com/...
County Commissioner Byerly Responds To City of Alachua Mayor
June 2nd, 2006
http://alachuapost.com/...
City Mayor Questions County Commissioner`s Role
May 22nd, 2006
http://alachuapost.com/...
Florida House Seat 23 Candidates Forum
May 2, 2006
Background
City Manager Saga
June 20, 2002
Two Citizens Issued Verbal Trespass Warnings at City Hall (News) by Busy Kislig Shires
September 6, 2001
http://alachuapost.com/...
HIGH SPRINGS HERALD
The High Springs Herald articles below contain background on Grapski's political arrests in Alachua and his mistreatment at the hands of Alachua officials:
First false arrest - May 1, 2006 (charges held open for six months, then prosecuted, resulting in dismissal)
May 4, 2006
State House candidate arrested in Alachua City Hall
May. 11, 2006
Grapski back at City Hall as allegations mount
May 18, 2006
Editorial: Stop the games; show Grapski the documents
May 18, 2006
With county official now involved, situation heats up in city of Alachua
May 25, 2006
As mayor, I am outraged by Byerly’s comments
May 25, 2006
Grapski's arrest a wake-up call
June 8, 2006
Judge: Grapski can speak at city meetings
June 15, 2006
Alachua accuses Grapski of again illegally taping a city employee
June 22, 2006
Action & Reaction: Lawsuit alleges specific illegal actions by Alachua officials
June 22, 2006
Alachua needs to investigate its elections, drop charges against me, Grapski
June 29, 2007
Why is tax money being used to go after Grapski?
July 6, 2006
Except for his home, Grapski now banned from Alachua
July 27, 2006
Grapski no longer a candidate for state House
October 12, 2006
State Attorney's Office decides to officially charge Grapski in incident involving Alachua city manager
November 9, 2006
Grapski to be his own attorney in 'recording' trial to start Monday
November 22, 2006
Judge dismisses criminal wiretap charges against Grapski
Second false arrest - Alachua City Commission meeting - February 12, 2007
(charges held open for six months, never prosecuted)
January 4, 2007
Other charges against Grapski dropped but trespass warning issued
February 15, 2007
Grapski arrested yet again, this time carried out of Alachua city meeting
February 27, 2007
Alachua Shocker: Every challenger in city elections is disqualified
March 1, 2007
Grapski is not a threat to people
March 9, 2007
With injunction request canceled, Alachua elections back on again
Third false arrest - August 13, 2007 (charges still pending, Grapski's defense being compromised by denial of right to counsel and due process)
August 16, 2007
Grapski in jail on police battery charges
August 17, 2007
Grapski not eating, says he is being mistreated in jail
August 21, 2007
On hunger strike, Grapski taken to hospital with faint vitals
August 23, 2007
Ending a hunger strike: Grapski in hospital after second arrest
August 30, 2007
Grapski released from jail, recovering from hunger strike
August 30, 2007
Alachua answers questions posed in lawsuits over city elections, issue of Watson having two titles
August 30, 2007
Letter: I was at the police dept. and Grapski did no wrong
August 30, 2007
Letter: Why is The Herald giving so much attention to Grapski?
September 6, 2007
State Attorney's Office drops some charges against Grapski
October 12, 2008 misdemeanor arrest
October 13, 2008
Grapski in jail after early morning incident
October 20, 2006
Grapski, who sued over elections, still unhappy with being banned from the city
November 7, 2008
Grapski continues to be held in jail without bond following October arrest
Clovis Watson, Dual Office Holding, Public Records, Alachua lawsuits, etc.
November 30, 2006
State: Watson breaking law by also being police officer
January 11, 2007
Watson: Alachua will be a model city for public records
March 15, 2007
Lawsuit filed against city manager for also being a sworn officer
April 20, 2007
Rod Smith to help defend Watson in lawsuit over dual office holding
May 24, 2007
City files motion to dismiss dual-office lawsuit against Watson, saying suit has legal problems
June 20, 2007
New contract will pay Watson a year's salary if he ever quits
August 30, 2007
Alachua answers questions posed in lawsuits over city elections, issue of Watson having two titles
September 27, 2007
FDLE strips Watson of police powers
January 31, 2008
Both sides claiming victory in dual-office lawsuit
February 7, 2008
Alachua now suing state about Watson's retirement fund
March 20, 2008
Request made for rehearing in dual office lawsuit
April 28, 2008
'Public record' laws debated in lawsuit against Alachua
Search the High Springs Herald archives at www.highspringsherald.com for "grapski alachua" for more...