Documents show history of angry and abusive behavior by Bell Gardens' Crespo

Slain Bell Gardens Mayor Daniel Crespo had a long history of abusive confrontations with City Hall colleagues, according to confidential city documents obtained by KPCC.

The documents show that Crespo clashed angrily with a former Bell Gardens city manager, with a manager of the city's community services department, and with members of his own condominium homeowner's association.

In the latter case, which dates to 1999, he was accused of displaying a handgun holstered on his belt as a threat to other members of the association.  Crespo later denied to police that he was carrying a handgun that day, police reports show.

One former Bell Gardens city staffer confirmed the history of strife to KPCC, saying  Crespo was kind and cordial to some workers but aggressive with others.  Some staff members believed he carried his gun to work at city hall. The city manager eventually sought a restraining order against him.

“I’ve seen his temper rise, even in meetings,” said the source, who asked for anonymity to protect her current job. “Everyone argues at work and has disagreements but a restraining order…

“Everybody cringed when they saw Crespo.” 

Police say Crespo was shot to death by his wife at his home Tuesday during a family argument. An attorney for Lyvette Crespo has said that the wife and son were long-time victims of domestic abuse.  Police have said there is no history of domestic abuse calls at his home.

The tales of domestic abuse have been disputed by Crespo's brother, William, who has called for justice for his brother.

The documents obtained by KPCC shed no light on the question of domestic abuse, but they do portray a trail of city employees who felt threatened and intimidated by Crespo, in some cases enough that they filed damage claims against the city:

• Former City Manager John Ornelas wrote a long memo to the city council in 2007 accusing Crespo of repeated incidents of abusive behavior, including a threat on his life.  Ornelas later filed a claim for damages against the city.  It's not clear how that case ended but Ornelas left city hall in 2008.
• Council secretary Diana Gonzalez filed a sexual harassment claim against Crespo in 2004.  The city admitted no wrongdoing but settled with her for $70,000, the documents show.
• Longtime councilmember Jennifer Rodriguez wrote a memo to Crespo in 2004 accusing him of a "lack of professionalism" and "initiating a hostile environment at City Hall."

"You are are showing the same abuse of power that previous council members were guilty of," Rodriguez wrote.

On Friday night Rodriguez, who still sits on the council, told KPCC that she did not remember what she wrote to Crespo in that memo more than ten years ago.

"That was a long time ago and I don’t recall that at this time," Rodriguez said. 

The councilwoman declined to discuss Crespo's temper or his interactions with city staff.

"I don’t dare criticize or defend either one," Rodriguez said, referring to Crespo and his wife.  "The only thing I can tell you is that the entire situation is a tragedy for everyone--the family and the city.

"We are all looking at this and we are still in shock, and devastated."