"O, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." Sir Walter Scott

What's going on with Metro Parks Spokesperson Susan Fairweather?

Nobody can be right all of the time; however, most professionals strive for accuracy and credibility. If you consider a "professional" to be someone who is paid for his or her work product, then Susan Fairweather is a professional. But Susan is light years from accurate or credible, and is seemingly the walking, talking creator of the oxymoron.

CASE IN POINT:

The March 3, 2004 edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports:

DeNicola is "helping to train" rangers for Metro Parks Serving Summit County, Fairweather said. Park Rangers are "highly trained' sharpshooters", she said.

Question: Are Metro Parks rangers trainees, or highly trained? They sound (and shoot) like trainees to us. Does Ms. Fairweather know the difference?

In the same article Susan states:

"Plastic bags are not placed over the heads of living animals."

FACT or FICTION?

FACT – After repeatedly reviewing video footage of the deer kill (located at www.AkronDeerTorture.com), four (4) Ohio veterinarians publicly stated that Metro Parks did indeed put plastic bags over the heads of living animals.

On March 5, 2004, Cleveland's Fox Network affiliate Channel 8 Television News aired a story about the discovery of a white tail deer killed by an apparent gun shot wound to the head in the Cascade Valley Metro Park. The dead deer was just a stone's throw from one of the Metro Parks' "deer management program" bait sites.

Two SHARK investigators were already on the scene with the Fox news crew when Susan Fairweather and two rangers arrived. Ms. Fairweather momentarily glanced down at the deer from a considerable distance and stated:

"This animal is not part of our deer management program".

This left us wondering: What expert knowledge is Ms. Fairweather relying on for this lightning-quick determination? Was the gunshot wound self-inflicted??? Why isn't Ms. Fairweather able to admit the obvious – that Metro Parks killers are as incompetent as they are cruel? They merely wounded their victim and didn't bother to track her down!

Ms Fairweather was very talkative for a March 31, 2004 Beacon Journal article, but as usual, she got it all wrong. The following excerpts detail Fairweather's fiction, followed with hard facts;

The park district had repeatedly told Hindi that it would release the photographic equipment as soon as his group provided proof ownership, said park district spokesperson Susan Fairweather.

FACT - SHARK president Steve Hindi did provide proof of ownership – in person – to Chief Ranger Ray Dickson within a couple days of the seizure. Nevertheless, Metro Parks held the equipment for another month.

She (Fairweather) said that park officials had not viewed what had been recorded on the confiscated equipment.

FACT - Contrary to Ms. Fairweather's assertions, Chief Ranger Ray Dickson's Report of Investigation clearly states that officials had viewed the video footage: "DeNicola (who was working with rangers Dave Rankin and Justin Simon) said that he had seen Dave Rankin's personal vehicle on one of the video cameras when he came to the ranger office..."

Wrong again, Susan! But Ms. Fairweather isn't done yet; she's just getting warmed up:

Fairweather said … the equipment was stored in the condition it was found in the rangers' evidence room.

FACT - Metro Parks records absolutely prove that this statement is false. Chief Ranger Ray Dickson's Report of Investigation states: "…the decision was made (by Anthony DeNicola and rangers Dave Rankin and Justin Simon) to erase the cameras." DeNicola confessed to this to Chief Dickson on March 8, 2004. It's called Evidence Tampering, and it’s a felony.

Susan, if you have no idea as to what is going on in the Metro Parks, why are you speaking for the organization? If you do know what is going on, why aren't you telling the truth?

NEXT: The April 17, 2004 edition of the Akron Beacon Journal further highlights Ms. Fairweather's propensity for misinformation:

"The two rangers were not involved in erasing or destroying the recorders, but they did break district rules and procedures."

We have to wonder: If a dead body had been discovered in a holding cell, instead of dead camera equipment in an evidence locker, would Susan have claimed that the rangers didn't shoot the guy; they only opened the cell doors and let the killer walk in the cell and commit the crime??? Fairweather continues:

"The park district looks at the matter as a case of rangers not following internal procedures for lost and found items, not tampering with evidence."

FACT - SHARK's equipment was bagged, tagged, photographed, and repeatedly referred to in reports as "evidence."

Acceptance is the first step in dealing with reality, Susan. Deal with it. Unfortunately, Metro Parks' decision to ignore these crimes merely demonstrates their willingness to add Obstruction of Justice to their ever-growing criminal repertoire. Also bear in mind that these are the very people who are being paid by the public to enforce the law! The Beacon Journal article continues:

"Park officials were unable to prove whether DeNicola erased what was on the recorders", she (Fairweather) said. ``We can't confirm it,'' she said. ``We don't know if he did it.''

Having read Metro Parks documents, the Beacon Journal reporter makes the obvious comment:

"She (Fairweather) offered no explanation for how park officials reached that conclusion, when records indicate that DeNicola had talked to rangers about his actions."

Finally, a June 3, 2004 Beacon Journal article states:

Fairweather said the rangers were not involved in erasing or destroying the recorders, but they did break district rules on handling lost-and-found property.

FACT - Pictures of SHARK's equipment taken by rangers while the equipment was in Metro Parks custody shows some of the damage. Furthermore, evidence shows the damage was intentional – not accidental.

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