Arcata Mayor Issues Statement on Sunday’s Arrest
Booking photo of Arcata Mayor Brett Watson.
Arcata’s Mayor, Brett Watson, arrested late Sunday on three charges including DUI, Possession of controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia issued a statement through the City of Arcata today.
Press release from the City of Arcata:
On the night of Sunday, August 1, Arcata Mayor Brett Watson was detained and cited for driving under the influence. The arrest resulted when the California Highway Patrol were conducting a controlled traffic stop on L.K. Wood Boulevard.
In a statement made today, Mayor Watson shared his initial response to the arrest:
“Last week was the one year anniversary of my father’s death. He was severely depressed and took his own life. I’ve really been struggling with the loss this last week. I appreciate the community’s patience while I sort through the impact his death has had on me and the events of Sunday night. I take full responsibility for the results of the arrest while recognizing the importance of seeking treatment to support my mental health.”
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If you’re taking full responsibility then why are you talking about your father’s suicide? I had a very close family member commit suicide. It weighs on me every day. I’ve yet to drive around intoxicated nor reached for a crack/meth/opium pipe or whatever hard drugs that was for. Seems like a pretty chickensh*t statement. Sounds more like an excuse was issued.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqywm3ur92c&t=102s&pp=sAQA
I am highly entertained by your video Adrienne!
Amazed at how long you kept that salt in your mouth, Adrienne, before drinking a beverage. Your video was most enjoyable.
I regularly eat salt because an undiagnosed condition makes me have a low blood sodium level that could actually be fatal… most people would’ve vomited eating a tablespoon of salt lol… the city of arcata gave me his personal cell phone number last night because apparently they give it to anyone who asks and I texted him and invited him to get drunk with me while I hid his car keys he texted me back an lol and a smiley face emoji.
Not impressed by Adrienne or any of you trolls… How cruel and mean-spirited people can be.
Because my dad died too….
Well, they’ll stone ya when you’re trying to be so good
They’ll stone ya just a-like they said they would
They’ll stone ya when you’re tryin’ to go home
Then they’ll stone ya when you’re there all alone
But I would not feel so all alone
Everybody must get stoned
Well, they’ll stone ya when you’re walkin’ ’long the street
They’ll stone ya when you’re tryin’ to keep your seat
They’ll stone ya when you’re walkin’ on the floor
They’ll stone ya when you’re walkin’ to the door
But I would not feel so all alone
Everybody must get stoned
They’ll stone ya when you’re at the breakfast table
They’ll stone ya when you are young and able
They’ll stone ya when you’re tryin’ to make a buck
They’ll stone ya and then they’ll say, “good luck”
Tell ya what, I would not feel so all alone
Everybody must get stoned
Well, they’ll stone you and say that it’s the end
Then they’ll stone you and then they’ll come back again
They’ll stone you when you’re riding in your car
They’ll stone you when you’re playing your guitar
Yes, but I would not feel so all alone
Everybody must get stoned
Well, they’ll stone you when you walk all alone
They’ll stone you when you are walking home
They’ll stone you and then say you are brave
They’ll stone you when you are set down in your grave
But I would not feel so all alone
Everybody must get stoned
Absolutely. He should donate his 12k a year to the families in the county that have lost their loved ones to DUI vehicular manslaughter, like the young lady killed by Grocery Outlet.
Your mental health issues do not justify putting other people at risk. Go to jail.
Its an explanation, not an excuse.
” I appreciate the community’s patience ” doesn’t sound like an explanation. It sounds like a demand. ” I take full responsibility for the results of the arrest ” does not even acknowledge fault for the cause of the arrest.
explaining something away is far from taking responsibility
Lmfao, whatever you need to call it! An explanation looking for sympathy is an excuse…. Most adults just take accountability for their actions and don’t look for a scapegoat to solve our stupid ass decisions!
Way to accept responsibility without really accepting responsibility. Good job!
If your father loved you and you loved your father, a real man would put on his big boy pants and honor the morals his father had taught him. That is unless of course he taught you to cope by getting all fucked up and making an ass out of yourself, while endangering the people you serve. If that’s the case, well maybe some forgiving and guidance would be in order. Grow up kid.
“while endangering the people you serve.” That’s way more than biting the hand that feeds you. What happens when an employee puts the employer at risk? They are formerly employed. Nuff said.
Hey there It’s All About Love. Your “If your father loved you and you loved your father …” is a mighty low-bro-brow scuzzy stab.
It’s facts. You want to have a positive memory of a loved one, do positive shit. You want to circle the drain for a year, you pull a Watson!
Arcata is the city of stabbings.
God Bless you… The Lord will forgive you. Just forgive yourself too…
No one is above Christ law, but his law is not our law.
Hopefully this brings you closer to God…. I am sorry for your fathers loss… we all need to learn to forgive!
Best wishes,
Minister BEarjoo
Anyone hear what that controlled substance was?
Had to be speed
There are no excuses. If he was drinking, that’s one thing as alcohol is legal, although drunk driving is not. There is no reason anyone should ever get a pass for illegal drugs. Either way, I’m waiting for his resignation. He is not fit for office. If he is having mental health issues, he should have taken a leave of absence, not go out and endanger others.
It’s not a matter of forgiveness, it’s a matter of a leader putting himself in the position of injuring or killing someone. He indeed did almost cause a wreck by nearly hitting the officer who pulled him over and arrested him.
This is normal arcata mayorial behavior. So what. Most of the people in this county have driven under the influence.
So, everyone else is doing it so it’s ok? Well then, give the man a raise; he’s just trying to represent his citizens.
If you’ve paid attention at all to any of the comments on stories like this on this news site, you’d know there is always a call for justice, especially when the suspect is in the spotlight.
It’s a minor offense committed by a huge segment of the population.
in the 1950’s you could drink WHILE driving, not problem. In the 70’s everyone drank and drove.
I think they should only enforce those who get in accidents. Too many nanny staters imho….
Americans were born free…. whether we die free is open for debate.
He’s a man of the people 🙂
Yes minor…unless of course you factor in the driving…under the influence..my childhood best friend was killed by a drunk driver..so for Jamie Jones…not minor
That’s too bad.
What was the controlled substance?
Keep your head up!
Cocaine is a helluva drug!
Carcaine is even better!
I’m confident your employer offers mental health assistance to its employees. Instead, you contemplated the anniversary and made unconscionable choices. Take some time off to get assistance & choose to heal yourself.
Yea it’s your dead father’s fault you went and copped some powder…
👍👍👍
I bet you wish you would have defunded those pesky cops so you could cope in peace.
What substance?
Every village has its idiot!
He disgraces his father by using his death as a reason for using.
👍👍👍
Moron
Kym
I’ve had two deaths in my family recently with one of them being my little brother who was murdered and then I had to put my service animal down yesterday. I’m not out making bad decision like this gentleman nor putting others at risk. He should be in jail to think about the consequences of his actions plain and simple.
Indeed, you honor your little brother and your service animal. Stay on the good foot, Suprgrl.
I got pulled over for a controlled substance and it was pot. A damn roach. I was mortified that they said controlled substance and not the name of the substance. But he definitely should not be driving drunk. But they gave me a DUI too! I was not drunk or on drugs. They impounded my car and I did a blood test at the closest ER. Because I knew that would prove my innocence. Of course the results don’t come back fast enough to be useful in the moment. So they dropped all charges and 7 months later I get a ticket in the mail for speeding. I already had to pay $300 for an impound fee. Be humiliated going to jail. I fought the speeding ticket and won. Cop never showed up. I would of put him on the spot for touching me extremely inappropriately after being frisked. Hwy patrol officer. I also was pulled over at an extremely dark an unpopulated area.
Your story smells a little fishy. You got pulled over for a controlled substance? How does that work?
Efficiency Reports
So, someone who I just met (and whose name and distinguishing features I cannot recall), just slammed a sixer and hit the obstacle course.
To be fair to the proud tradition of Mayoral drunk drivers, whatever the unannounced hell that the State is out there ruining is likely to be a big problem to less than local saucers. One would presume. It’s really weird, poorly demarcated, and generally shocking. Maybe you’d blow it if you couldn’t handle your shit, and didn’t know how to avoid it
But, my contact in the drunken world assured me that this is a manageable novice rally. Incidentally, the only innocent bystanders in all of this are laughing road crew members who are spitting and bs’ing, while surely getting paid more than any bastard municipal politician.
If anything, this should be a test for who gets appointed to council—and who has to leave to go work in Fortuna
If you can’t handle an Arcata obstacle course, go work in Fortuna.
I’d be willing to bet the “paraphernalia” and “controlled substance” was some weed and a pipe. It was a shitty response, but shit happens. His liberalism is worse than this.
Um pot is no longer a crime…sooo.Coke or speed
Brett is one of the nicest people you could meet. He is kind and very reliable. Brett is human like the rest of us we all struggle with emotional balance. Think your better than Brett well go be the mayor then!
That’d be a pretty ok letter of recommendation for a teenager applying for a (push) lawn mowing job.
Well said.
Are you serious? You take an oath and it’s your job to obey the laws as a mayor. His pompous butt can resign.
Well if i was the mayor I wouldnt be driving around drunk and high..bad decision.He could have killed somebody
Get to some meetings , make your Dad proud of you, so he can RIP 🙏🙏🙏
Bummer.
And sad that most comments to date on this thread are pathetic. Bunch of shit talkers on this subject. Grow a pair while you hide out.
Very hardcore blog comment.
[edit]
Tell him one of his jobs (that he gets paid for) is to not fuck up.
Also, tell him it’s one of the citizen’s jobs (that they don’t get paid for) to figuratively kick his ass for fucking up.
“Fuck”?
“Kick ass”?
Welcome aboard, hardCorp brother.
A friend might advise you to put down the gas can, already.
Then, again, there’s that whole “community’s patience” thing.
What, you think there’s not a bunch of shit talking? The guy has real problems. Yes. But the guy served, and until we know better he serves, as a city councilmember. A fairly progressive council member in a progressive town, problems and all.
Think twice about who the gassers.
Public servants deserve public shit when they fuck up. If you want to make the Mayor feel better, send him a card.
I’m not going to be terribly annoyed if you want to kiss ass or promote your admiration on the blogs, but coming here to upbraid citizens for expressing their legitimate outrage and/or sense of humor is uncalled for.
What should concern you most, however, is that the way you’re running your PR campaign (“grow a pair while you hide out”), isn’t helping Watson look any better.
I personally wouldn’t hold it against the Mayor if he threw mud tires on his Lexus and plowed through the Plaza to reinstall and climb McKinley with a base pipe—while wearing lingerie, combat boots, a beer helmet, and a Eureka T-shirt. But, maybe that’s just me.
I don’t care about his problems, nor do I wish to know about them.
By the way, if the Mayor is unable to make it through the remainder of his term, for any reason, don’t be surprised if no one would believe that the value of his institutional knowledge can’t be faithfully rendered on a few Post-its.
Hey, you might not be so cavalier if you knew how insidious the combo of major grief (like around a suicide, father) then massive public shaming can really, actually, fuck a person up even more.
What should concern you most is yer not yet ready for prime-time living considering your own attitude on this subject. Any idea how suicide in a family can be followed by same within same family, especially parent-child, especially father-son (No? I didn’t think so.) If your ilk want him to feel even worse, send him a card. Crap sound familiar?
I met the guy once, minutes. No kids-ass agenda whatsoever.
As to your self-serving creative writing exercise (below), take a class, or get some. Good luck.
“I personally wouldn’t hold it against the Mayor if he threw mud tires on his Lexus and plowed through the Plaza to reinstall and climb McKinley with a base pipe—while wearing lingerie, combat boots, a beer helmet, and a Eureka T-shirt. But, maybe that’s just me.”
I’m already famously hated, Chris—you don’t need to repeat my paean to a flailing public servant whose main claim to fame is rubber stamping another sewer rate increase to overfund a conceptually impressive, yet extravagantly vain non-chlorine shit pond complex with a hidden price tag, via zoom.
But, your buddy must be the only one in town with real problems—so, keep telling us how rewarded he should be for continuing to let himself live.
PS: If you continue this much longer, people are likely to assume you ARE the mayor. And that just makes it weirder.
You drunk?
And this:
“you don’t need to repeat my paean to a flailing public servant whose main claim to fame is rubber stamping another sewer rate increase for a non-chlorine shit pond complex with a hidden price tag, via zoom”
The above reads like you’ve a personal beef with da Mayor, hence yer attack on me. Go look at some of the select shit-talkng in the thread. I wonder if some are the same dude, lol.
See Frankie’s post, namer? He’s shit-talking like there’s no tomorrow.
You know him perhaps.
Where yer drunk-mumbly other post go, the one that was just here minute ago, full of shit-talk, the post where you clearly had an agenda, some anger about a City water project. Ah, you deleted it, good call 👍🏽
it was poetic tho, namers shit pond complex rap…
gotta give credit when its due!
with illegalization passing, can see why people still angry, but if the dudes dad really died dude, we have to forgive.
Meanwhile corporate A holes are creating a lockstep of propaganda and inventing new drugs to string us out on that dont even get you high…. (and then there’s the videos of people shaking on bitchute)
Peace in da Middle East y’all
Haven’t abandoned you, Dear Chris.
Moderation tends not to lend to swift conversational flow. And, occasionally namer’s loving, gruelingly crafted dispensations to his adoring clientele get killed behind the control curtain—for Moderation Goddess Only Knows What Reason (MGOKWR.)
That is something that could work for you, if you think about it. You could probably request moderation. Might feel better to do it that way, than have it inevitably befall you. A prime benefit is that you are guaranteed to have one person give a shit about what you say.
Keep refreshing this page. There may be somewhat hotter fires than this thread for Kym to monitor, so it could take a while to get your namer quotable passages for the day.
Try not to be too paranoid.
Don’t reply to this either of you. Time to stop the sniping.
Don’t reply to this either of you. Time to stop the sniping.
Please note: I’m dealing with two major fires and a worldwide pandemic that is killing people I know. In addition, I have a personal life that is particular stressful right now. I’m likely to ban people for causing drama and making me write comments when I should be writing articles.
He is paid by our money. Fuck that, Chris. You’re hiding as well. Go start a gofundme or start a rally for him in that wonderful square. Better yet, go to the community center or Healthsport where the bums have absolutely taken the parking lot over.
Mostly unpaid position, Richard. Arcata Plaza is awesome town feature. Yeah, attracts all kinds. But thanks for showing us your … orientation. As to Hamspot lot, hope you, all, enjoying spandex, I’ve a kiwi hugger Speedo from my 1990’s if anyone needs.
Unpaid? Over a thousand a month to run a couple of meetings, say no to everything, refuse to clean up the city. Well done. Oh, get arrested on dui and drugs. Awesome job!
For the hours they put in, and on top of their other work, and as to the serious-ness of issues they deal with, the $ paid is next to nothing. If yer so keen on all the problems of Arcata, you’d know this.
Chris, you’re full of crap. I’ve known plenty of mayors, Carl is one, and he respected the laws, and it opens doors like crazy as far as business and work is concerned. The money is on top of all the opportunities you get. This guy had it all, and is still a pompous ass.
Geez Richard, you say I was full of crap about the low pay for the hrs they put in. Cmon. But that you go on, that the Mayor is missing out on business opportunities he could get on top of his pay. Um.
Noted
Yeah, Sofia landed a friendly six figure job because of her work as a mayor and no experience in the field she was hired in. Yes, you’re full of it.
Looks to me like he was on the council and still is until we know different. So stop twisting and running off with silly blather otherwise as ya look silly.
Richard, yer $ comments hear are no longer relevant, you’re blathering.
You’re highly intelligent. You’re right, being a mayor opens no financial doors! Way to go! Chris, you’re a true Richard.
Whoa there cowboy whats with the bum bashing?They didnt make the mayor decide not to call a cab…jeeze
Joining the hallowed company of George W. Bush, Ryan Sundberg, and Noah Levy. Oh, and Glenn Campbell, Mel Gibson, and Reese Whitherspoon.
Brett was just following in the tire tracks of former Arcata city council member Mark Wheetley.
I’m surprised Arcata keeps electing sis-gendered males for mayor, considering the communities general and declared antipathy for said demographic..
It’s all good Brett, it happens to the best of us. Sober up brother.
Your out dude. Let someone in that doesn’t make excuses and makes a difference. Now I know why Arcata wants to a place people can come and sit at the square unbothered by law enforcement and do drugs, cause the mayor is one of them!!! Get real!!!
Is that really Arcata’s mayor?
Weak sauce standard public relations consultant-type statement, and then the Rehab Reclamation Tour.
Why does it not strike me as strange that a Humboldt county Mayor is a crackhead, after all that is the “land of dope” You can’t have your “safe and harmless ” drug (pot) without attracting the other stuff. People are emboldened by the lack of rejection of drugs in general.
Brett is a good man, and with a mostly brand new City Council, his knowledge and leadership is needed. His term expires November 2022. 16 months. He needs to stay on the Council for now, and then let the people decide in the next election cycle
If he’s driving under the influence, how do we know he’s not mayoring under the influence? Wait, he was. Like a police officer, never really OFF duty. 16 more months of untrustworthy decisions.
But then, not my city. Not my vote. Not my decision. Not my say. Though, he will be tried in a county court. However, it’ll probably take 16 months to get to court
Somehow this brings me back to that narco convention i happened upon. Never seen so many sex workers and blow and cops in the same place. Also never been propositioned so much by those never OFF duty folk.
Hypocrisy is part of human nature. Its the brains #1 job to convince us its not.
we know this is you Chris.
Sorry to burst that fantasy but, no, it’s not I.
Just a typical Humboldt County degenerate. Keep up the great work people!
best mayor ever! lets party some time B
“driving that train high on cocaine”
Bla bla bla…go to jail and don’t pass go….your fired…get some real help
Not sure what you expect with the drug culture that Humboldt has become. This is just what politixans do these days.
Glad he did not kill someone elses dad driving drunk.
His punishment should be sleeping in a pup tent on the Plaza for one week. Then he’d have a better understanding of the crap we have to put up with and as Mayor he maybe he might be more aggressive cleaning it up.
Isn’t sleeping on the plaza illegal?
If he can afford to drive a Lexus and buy cocaine and alcohol on the weekends, then he can afford rehab. He makes quite a bit of money in his position of power, more than $10k a month, and this info provided was over three years ago: https://openpayrolls.com/brett-watson-70572311. He will probably use this money to buy a lawyer who can get him out of trouble.
In my opinion, this does not sound like a man who is coping poorly with a “recent loss”. This sounds like a man who is abusing his power and deceiving the public for financial gain and control. His statement suggests this as he said, “I appreciate the community’s patience” which implies that he is still looking to stay in office. For someone to be concerned with this after risking the lives of others is a sociopath who lacks empathy.
I believe that the city and media and CHP will clear his name slowly but surely because of the influence that Brett can have. I also believe Brett is strategically being advised to “accept responsibility” to make himself appear accountable only because he was caught. If he was responsible and self-accountable, he would not have made the choice he did.
He was simply being selfish. He is now using a tragic situation as a way to provoke feelings from the community so that he can stay in office (to receive high pay to afford his car payments and lavish lifestyle.) He is also using his statement as a way to make matters “personal” so that people will not be inclined to talk about it.
And not to sound insensitive myself, but has anyone thought about fact-checking that his father actually died last year?
Frankie, hahaha, read your own link. The guy “makes” tad over $1K a month at City. and that’s only with benefits included. Ya twisted and based good part of your post on your own mistake followed by twists of disgusting knife. Shame. Gonna go back now and edit yer post good? We’ll see.
You wrote:
“He makes quite a bit of money in his position of power, more than $10k a month …”
And this, this is right about troll depth:
“And not to sound insensitive myself, but has anyone thought about fact-checking that his father actually died last year?”
You, sir, are downright inconsiderate and disgusting.
Someone should fact check you, Frankie. You got the salary completely wrong, and what else? The rest of your comment is pure conjecture and nastiness. You should try looking in the mirror some time.
“Survivors of suicide loss not only experience these aspects of complicated grief, they are also prone to developing symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder—a direct result from their loved one’s suicide. The unspeakable sadness about the suicide becomes a circle of never ending bewilderment, pain, flashbacks and a need to numb the anguish.”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/two-takes-depression/201311/understanding-survivors-suicide-loss
There are excuses for anything, so please don’t make another for this guy. He screwed up, he will pay a price. Is anyone surprised that politicians almost always lie when it benefits them to do so. He is no different. People who put politicians on a higher plain are utter fools and gullible pawns to be played and herded into a box canyon. . More than likely half of all death row inmates and other convicted murderers would tell you that it wasn’t their fault they killed someone because of……..excuses or it was something some other person did to them to set them off so they settled the score in their own minds.
I’m *not* making excuses for him, just showing compassion. Politicians are human beings just like you and me, and human beings f*ck up – especially in this county. They also suffer and hurt, and it is that hurt that I was responding to. Imagine losing a loved one to suicide. How would you cope? I don’t see why you have to kick someone when they’re down. That’s just cowardly and cruel.
Isn’t sleeping on the plaza illegal?
There are tents set up out there. Why don’t you tell us? How about camping at the Community Center? Seems like everything is a go in Arcata.
Heaven forbid they do some landscaping in the city. They’ve got that old man parking citation gentleman working overtime.
Sorry buddy, mine was a duplicate response to another, earlier post. Think “typo”.
It would be nice if those elected cared about the living…
But our “leader” is a bonafid Iraqi War Criminal with 200,000+ dead Iraqi Farmers on his hands.
We knew this before anyone voted.
If we can’t get that right, then drink on.
I had a DUI. Really messed up my life. Still is messing up my life. I’ve been sober 18 months now, but that doesn’t make up for my mistake. It was the wrong thing to do and I’ll never do it again. Everyone’s human, but just admit to your mistake and accept many others won’t forgive you.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Humboldt/comments/owpgql/arcata_mayor_watson_arrested_on_dui_possession/
“So, I’m the one who originally took this photo. He went flying through the southern road block on L K Wood Boulevard going around 70mph, and when bystanders tried flagging him to stop he just honked and sped on by, nearly hitting some of them. We chased after him down the road, thinking he was going to plow right into the police car blocking the road in front of Blondies. When we caught up, he was pleading with the officer to let him go.”
Ranae must be proud of you. NOT
The Guy Is Clearly In Denial And Is Believing His Own Bullshit.
The Guy Is Clearly In Denial And Believing His Own B.S.