Turlock farmers market fracas – drone, punches, arrest of manager
Turlock Certified Farmers Market manager Derek Griffin was arrested on a charge of battery Saturday at the Turlock fairgrounds after an altercation with a community member photographing booths with a drone.
“We did respond to the fairground as the victim called us alleging an assault had occurred,” said Turlock police Sgt. Stephen Webb, adding Griffin, 52, was arrested on a charge of battery.
David “D.J.” Fransen said he was punched in the chest twice and pushed as Griffin tried to take away his drone controller and phone.
“Basically the market manager started charging at me, started cussing at me,” Fransen said Tuesday. The two grappled, he said, “Basically, I was concerned for the people below (the drone).” Fransen is publisher of Turlock City News.
Fransen said he was at the market to document what he believed were overstatements of attendance by TCFM, which operates Saturday mornings at the fairgrounds. He was flying a drone taking video, which Webb said in a public place like the fairgrounds is legal.
Griffin did not respond to Bee requests for comment.
The market and a rival operator verbally sparred earlier this year over use of Main Street in downtown Turlock. The nonprofit TCFM had run the downtown weekly street fair since 2010, but the for-profit Turlock Downtown Farmers Market challenged them, filing first for the street closure permit. A heated political battle ensued, ending with the new operator taking the downtown slot and TCFM finding a new home at the fairgrounds.
Over the season, the Main Street newcomer has seen business and vendors dwindle, while the fairgrounds market has remained robust and earlier this month Griffin estimated its attendance at 3,000 to 5,000 people each Saturday. Earlier this month, the Downtown Farmers Market was moved off of Main Street and into Central Park after merchants complained the street closure and lack of foot traffic was hurting business.
This story was originally published August 16, 2016 at 4:55 PM with the headline "Turlock farmers market fracas – drone, punches, arrest of manager."