Critic of Scientology Comments on Recent Incident of Alleged Assault and Flier Created by The Cleveland Street Safety League

Scientologist Michael Fitzgerald was arrested for allegedly assaulting Shawn Lonsdale who was filming a documentary about The Church of Scientology. A few days after the alleged assault, posters with a mugshot of Lonsdale and his social security number started popping up in store windows near the church warning people that he's dangerous and has been arrested for sex crimes, which in reality is a simple misdemeanor Lonsdale received years ago.

Clearwater, FL (PRWEB) July 24, 2006 -- On July 8, 2006, Shawn Lonsdale was finishing up some filming in downtown Clearwater for an amateur documentary about the Church of Scientology, when he was allegedly assaulted by Michael Fitzgerald, a Scientologist who said Lonsdale was harassing his church. Fitzgerald was arrested and released on bail. The video of the alleged assault on Lonsdale is currently in the possession of the Clearwater Police. (See Docket #: 1200405) The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Subject Charge Report: http://www.pcsoweb.com/Inmate/SubjectResults.aspx?id=1200405

Two days later, posters featuring Lonsdale's picture and social security number appeared in stores around downtown Clearwater. These posters, distributed by the Cleveland Street Safety League, warned that Lonsdale was a "sexual criminal." Bay News 9 has provided a photo and story of this poster, viewable here: http://301url.com/3wb

The church says it didn't hand out the fliers, that they came from an organization called The Cleveland Street Safety League.

The Cleveland Street Safety League was apparently created by Scientologist Richard Hirst, who has a documented history of "handling" Scientology critics.

Richard Hirst, works with cchr.org (Citizens Commission on Human Rights), which is an anti-psychiatric organization created by The Church of Scientology. Hirst is an OSA volunteer (Scientology's Office of Special Affairs), and he also lives a few streets over from Sean Lonsdale.

Here is the story of the alleged assault according to Bay News 9: http://301url.com/3WC
This is the alleged assault story on sptimes.com:
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/07/11/Northpinellas/Scientologist_arreste.shtml
The alleged assault on Shawn Lonsdale was also featured on Digg.com:
http://digg.com/offbeat_news/Scientologist_assaults_peaceful_protester

Shawn Lonsdale openly criticized the Church of Scientology. According to Scientology's religious scriptures, "dead agenting" is a common response from the Church. Dead Agent means to spread malicious lies and rumors about Scientology critics or organization, in an attempt to so thoroughly discredit them that everyone concerned will be disgusted with them, and not listen to the information they have to give about the cult. Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard said this about his enemies, "Always attack, never defend."
Source:
http://www.xenu.net/archive/enemy_names/dead_agenting.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_controversy#.22Dead_agenting.22

About the author of this press release:
Paul Horner is a critic of The Church of Scientology who is concerned about making sure the community of Clearwater's justice system is still working okay. That's why this press release was created. Listed below are three links created by Paul Horner related to this story.
http://www.scientomogy.com/scientologist_assaults_protester.php
http://www.scientomogy.com/warning.php
http://scientologyfrontgroups.ytmnd.com

You can contact Shawn Lonsdale at http://ocmb.xenu.net/ocmb. He uses the user name Proflex. Author's email address is paul @ stopscientology.com and can be reached at 480-430-4204. Richard Hirst from The Cleveland Street Safety League lists his number on the flier in question as 727-631-7862.

Paul Horner tried to get a comment from Richard Hirst, but he never answered his phone. Voicemails were left on each phone call with contact info, but Hirst never responded.

Post Comment:
Trackback URL: http://www.prweb.com/pingpr.php/U3VtbS1FbXB0LU1hZ24tSGFsZi1JbnNlLVplcm8=

scientology assault scientologist church of scientology scientology michael fitzgerald richard hirst front groups dead agenting shawn lonsdale cleveland street safety league

Bookmark -  Del.icio.us | Digg | Furl It | Spurl | RawSugar | Simpy | Shadows | Blink It | My Web