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Exclusive!
La Habra Heights, CA -
At approximately 2:50PM today scanner listeners
were startled by an emergency call for help. This was not for aid from
the Sheriff or Fire Department, but rather the caller was seeking help
from the community as the City of La Habra Heights stepped up its war on
animal keeping.
Aida Lough, wife of former City Council Candidate Phil Lough, used her
Fire Watch radio to summon help when La Habra Heights City prosecutors and
staff demanded access to their property. The search warrant was executed
by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Industry Station deputies, who
also responded with a locksmith and County Animal control. Approximately
14 individuals took part in the raid of the Lough residence. The search
warrant stated they were in violation of the city municipal code on how
many animals one can have on a property, and were operating without a
business license.
The Loughs first appeared on the City’s radar when they invented a way to
convert Llama waste into an effective fertilizer they called “Llama
Brew”. Their product brought notoriety to La Habra Heights when it was
featured on ABC’s Shark Tank television show, where investors evaluate and
fund products that are judged to be potential profit makers. Since that
time the couple has also been accused of everything from having one too
many goats to making bombs out of animal waste. The City also wrongfully
accused the Loughs of allowing rabbit droppings on the road, but it was
later discovered the droppings were from a nearby rubber tree.
In an open letter to the community today, Aida Lough stated:
“…Our city is a dictatorship and doesn't want farms or rural living.
The city manager wants to continue to hurt us and (not) allow us to pursue
happiness.
Folks if you have a farm or animals in LHH you are at risk, please be
careful, the city manager has control and will not relent. We have a court
day to appeal our case on May 12 yet the city came on today to intimidate
us, hurt us, hurt our children and their beloved goats. We haven't even
appealed our case!!!...With much sadness, Aida and Phil Lough”
City manager Shauna Clark was not present for the raid, but was in
attendance at “The Park” playground equipment dedication along with all
five city council members. Ms. Clark was observed "glued" to her cell
phone as the warrant was executed just before the dedication ceremony.
City officials present at the raid had no comment.
Phil Lough, a teacher at San Dimas High School, was also not present for
the raid on his residence. He stated that he had just finished showing
Steven Spielberg’s epic masterpiece Schindler's List to his class and
compared the city’s actions to that of those depicted in the movie. The
World War II era film follows Germany’s crackdown on Jews by Nazi’s
Gestapo and the SS. Phil ended his statement by saying are we living in
Germany? Some residents do indeed refer to City Manager Shauna Clark as
the Gestapo and the malicious code enforcement actions by City staff
against residents as “Gestapo Tactics” An unnamed La Habra Heights City
Council member stated that selective “code enforcement action is how the
City keeps residents in line".
The next step for the Loughs is a May 12th court hearing at the Whittier
Courthouse
Readers are advised to stay informed by following us on Twitter.
http://twitter.com/LaHabraHeights
Learn more
about the Lough's and their fight for justice
Click here to view
Search Warrant
EOM
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