March 11, 2009 - Police Complaint regarding Ed Black

March 11, 2009

Police Complaint regarding Ed Black
I was forced to move to my cabin in Cedar Slope due to financial problems in October of 2005. I had previously paid Ed Black, recommended by the Cedar Slope Mutual Water Company, to watch my cabin. (See police report, 02-6094 on burglary, 2002). Black had a key to my cabin as part of the services offered for security.
I work on line and, especially when on deadline, will work through the night. In April, 2006, I was sleeping in, having worked late, when Black used the key provided to him and entered my home without knocking.
I screamed and he left. My car was parked out front. There could have been no doubt that I was in the residence. I demanded the return of the key. Black brought it to my door. He handed it to me and we did not speak.
Soon thereafter, Black began lingering in his truck near my lot. I tried to ignore and avoid him.
Until the winter of 2007, Black cleared all snow from the road so I could easily access my driveway and the road. During the winter of 2007, Black changed his manner of plowing the snow to pile up a berm in front of my driveway so I could not access it. He also began piling snow on the road and tamping it down to create black ice in front of my driveway and on every grade in the road so it would make it too slick to drive or even walk.
In early spring, 2007, Black began to stop in the road below my cabin and park, staying in his truck. I have on three occasions seen him masturbating while sitting in his truck and staring up into my windows. These incidents are frightening. He knew I could see him and this did not alter his behavior. I became afraid to walk by myself.
I am the full time caretaker for my son, Arthur, who has suffered two major brain injuries. He is entirely blind in one eye, partially blind in the other, has cognitive issues and walked only with the aid of a walker or cane.
During the summer of 2007, my son, Arthur, went missing while out for a walk. I called the police and then called Black to see if he had seen Arthur as one of my first thoughts. Black never called back.
Later that same year, without telling me his intention, Arthur decided to walk down to Pierpoint. Discovering he had not returned from what was to be a walk to the store at the top of the hill I started looking for him. I called the sheriff. A short time later the sheriff drove up with Arthur in the car.
Arthur told me while walking back from Pierpoint he became exhausted and stopped to rest. Black drove by and paused when Arthur thumbed for a ride. Black gunned his engine and left him at the side of the road to be found by the Sheriff a few minutes later. A few minutes after Arthur was returned by the Sheriff, Black called me to tell me he had not seen Arthur. This lie which placed my son at risk caused me to feel threatened by Black's pattern of devious behavior.
In December of 2007, while I was taking a walk, Black drove up to me in his truck and told me I was not permitted to park my car on the flat area above the house although the area is used in just that way by multiple owners. He was abrupt and hostile. I parked there anyway because it made it easier for my son to get into the car.
When I used my car the next day, just as I got to the top of the hill at Highway 190, the brake pedal went all the way to the floor and the brakes failed. I had my car towed to 360 Degree Auto at 1164 West Olive in Porterville where my mechanic, Kevin Long, said the brakes lines were cut. A deputy went by to take pictures and agreed it looked intentional. I filed a police report (Case No. 08-0091 ).
Subsequently Deputy Sheriff Winters arranged to come to my house and initially was unable to get down the road because of the build up of ice there. I mentioned some part of what is here to him but made no formal report at that time. I found that I was having trouble sleeping for fear of what might happen next. Cedar Slope had always been a place of sanctuary to me. This has changed entirely.
In June of 2008, my car had an electrical problem and I borrowed another car for transportation. My car remained in my driveway. In January, 2009, I decided to get my car fixed and renew the registration. Courtney Gillespie, a towtruck driver who is a friend of mine, towed my car to the top of the hill My and parked it on private property four yards off the road so AAA would come and tow it to a mechanic.
The day the AAA was to come for it, another tow truck came and, without my knowledge, impounded my car. I believe Black was responsible for calling the other tow truck and having my car impounded.
Due to the severity of the snow fall in late February, 2009, I went to stay with friends in Springville for a few days. When I returned the coaxial lines connected to my satellite dish receiver had been ripped out. Deputy Winters came out, took photographs, and filed it as vandalism. There was no damage to the roof, which there would have been if it had been caused by falling branches.
The repairman, Jakob Phillips, from Porterville, repaired the damaged lines and is prepared to testify it the damage was done by a big man with a lot of muscle power. Because of the damage on the line he also believed the individual had nearly fallen off the roof and also bent the staff. Few owners are here when it is storming and to get at the satellite the individual had to climb up on a two story roof. (See Case No. 09-2374 )
I am now frightened to take walks on the roads around my own home, not just from Black’s failure to properly plow the snow, but also because I am scared he might confront me when I am alone. I have suffered two heart attacks during my life and this kind of stress is not good for me. I moved to the mountains to get away from this kind of stress and now can find no peace nor solace any where.
Recently I contacted the Attorney General's Office regarding Black's license to provide security services. They had no record of an issued license for those services to anyone named Ed Black. I was told to contact the licensing office in Tulare and have done so. I have also been unable to obtain his bonding information, though he would have been required to have bonding to hold such a license. I am asking that this matter be followed up by authorities in Tulare County.



Signed,

Melinda Pillsbury-Foster

POB 2214

Camp Nelson, CA 3208

559-542-2874