STOCKTON, CA - The city of Stockton has taken legal action against the local police union after the union bought a foreclosed home next door to the city manager.
In a cross complaint that's a response to a lawsuit brought by the union against the city, Stockton is hoping to force the union out of the home near the University of the Pacific that it just bought.
City Manager Bob Deis wasn't available to answer questions Monday, but he said in May it felt like he was "living in Chicago in the 30s" because of the "classic old-school intimidation."
Attorneys representing the city said it was no coincidence the union bought next door to Deis when there were 600 other available properties in Stockton.
But the police union said the purchase was strictly for investment purposes, and the goal is to sell the home once it's been upgraded.
"Our plan is to rehab the house to make it as nice as possible to get it back on the market as quick as possible," said union spokesman Sean Fenner.
Fenner denied the intimidation accusation, and said when the union has made repairs, potential buyers will say "that's the house I want."
By tdaly@news10.net
News10/KXTV