Two more Santa Clara Waste Water officials arrested

August 19, 2015
Santa Paula News

Arrests are up to nine of those employed at Santa Clara Waste Water, the scene of explosions and fire November 18 that caused evacuations and injuries including three Santa Paula Firefighters who remain off duty after suffering suspected chemical exposure.

William Mitzel, SCWW CEO and David Joseph Wirsing, a general manager, were arrested last week in connection with various charges levied against the company officials.

First arrested last week were Chairman Douglas Edwards, the former CEO of the company now listed on the website as retired; Charles Mundy, who is listed as vice president; and managers Marlene Faltemier, Mark Avila, Kenneth Griffin, Dean Poe and Brock Gustin Baker.

All those arrested were booked into Ventura County Main Jail in Ventura and released on $20,000 bail. 

Arraignments are set to begin Wednesday and prosecutors are not yet making any statements regarding the cases, including whether they are connected to the District Attorney’s investigation of the company launched after the November 18 explosions and fire.

Results of the investigation have not yet been released.

Santa Clara Waste Water, also known as Southern California Waste Water and Green Compass Environment Solutions, has several facilities in the state including the plant west of Santa Paula on Mission Rock Road.

The SCWW officials were arrested on suspicion of numerous felonies and misdemeanors including causing impairment of an employee’s body, withholding information regarding a substantial danger to public safety, conspiracy to commit a crime, dissuading a witness from reporting a crime, known failure to warn of serious concealed danger, filing a false or forged instrument and disposal of hazardous waste.

Two people were initially injured—one critically—when 1,000 gallons of an unknown mixture, later identified by an internal investigation as sodium chlorite and wastewater, exploded out the back of a tanker truck at 3:45 a.m. at the facility, located west of Briggs Road and south of Highway 126.

The Ventura County Fire Protection internal report on the incident noted that personnel from Santa Paula—the first engine on scene—and the county were assured the spill was not hazardous by those at the scene. Finally firefighters were told the substance could be hazardous. The incident included the boots of first responders igniting as well as tires of vehicles including the SPFD Engine. 

Within hours a toxic cloud had formed over the plant, which ignited about 8:30 a.m. setting off a series of explosions of totes holding chemicals.

The industrial park had already been evacuated, as was a one-mile radius—those up to five miles away were asked to shelter in place—surrounding SCWW, including Briggs School.

The emergency command post drew responders from throughout the state as well as federal agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency, which had certified SCWW as a Superfund waste site in 2008.

Finally, a base camp was opened in the Kmart parking lot that was manned for months by various levels of response and those handling the incident including the FDA and Ventura County Agricultural Commission.





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