Humboldtian

Blue Lake Police Chief David Gundersen didn't look like this when he appeared in court Thursday to ask to be released from custody on his own recognizance, a request that Judge Marylin Miles denied. According to Times-Standard reporter Thadeus Greenson: Gunderson appeared in court clad in a red jumpsuit with his hands cuffed in front of him....

After avoiding the perp walk on Wednesday when another judge snuck Gundersen into his courtroom while the media wasn't looking, this time the man who is still the top cop in Blue Lake was on display, wearing the color of a Valentine's Day card. (Where's the photo, T-S?)

Russell Clanton, Gundersen's attorney, has a thankless job. His client doesn't seem to understand the amount of trouble he's in, if reports of Gundersen's behavior since being incarcerated a week ago are correct. According to District Attorney Paul Gallegos, Gundersen called his wife -- the alleged victim of Gundersen's alleged drug-aided sexual assaults -- while in jail and tried to bully her. Gundersen also called a registered sex offender to discuss possible hiding places, Gallegos told Miles, offering the judge recordings of the conversations. (Why is the chief getting so much access to a telephone behind bars?)

Clanton, of course, claimed that Gallegos was "misrepresenting" the intent of Gundersen's calls. What else could he say? Gunderson will remain in jail in lieu of a $500,000 bond indefinitely.

Clanton continues to insist that Gundersen's wife supports her husband. Thadeus Greenson reports that she was in the courtroom Thursday prepared to make a statement on Gundersen's behalf. But Miles wouldn't allow it. Interesting that Clanton claims Gundersen's wife says she's not afraid of her husband, but not that her husband is innocent of the 12 charges of spousal rape he faces.