In a recent development, the Ventura City Council unanimously voted to dismiss its city attorney, Andrew Heglund, during a special meeting held nearly a week ago. Initially attributed to a “personal matter” by Mayor Joe Schroeder, it has now come to light that Heglund’s termination was in response to an ongoing police investigation into an indecent exposure incident at a local Chick-fil-A restaurant, involving the former city attorney.
Authorities, Heglund’s attorney, and local media reports have confirmed the connection between his firing and the ongoing investigation. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, specifically the sexual assault unit within the major crimes bureau, has taken over the case from the Ventura Police Department. However, details surrounding the incident remain scarce, with law enforcement officials maintaining a tight-lipped approach.
Ventura Police Chief Darin Schindler, in response to inquiries from The Times, revealed that the incident occurred on April 10 at approximately 1:30 p.m. at the Chick-fil-A located on Eastman Ave. Upon arrival, officers conducted interviews with witnesses and gathered information related to the incident. Due to a conflict of interest, the case was subsequently referred to the Sheriff’s Department for further investigation. Chief Schindler’s email did not provide additional details regarding the nature of the incident.
Andrew Heglund, who had previously served as a deputy city attorney in Bakersfield for eight years, joined the Ventura city attorney’s office in July 2019. Following the retirement of his predecessor, Heglund was appointed as the city attorney in 2022, as per city records. Ron S. Bamieh, Heglund’s attorney, expressed confidence that the investigation would ultimately prove his client’s innocence, emphasizing that no criminal charges were pending. Bamieh also highlighted Heglund’s standing as a respected member of the community and a highly valued city attorney, recruited by the city.
The decision to terminate Heglund’s employment has raised questions about the city’s rationale, with Bamieh suggesting that panic rather than logical reasoning influenced the council’s decision. However, the attorney acknowledged that further arguments on this matter would be addressed at a later date.
2 Responses
“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” – John F. Kennedy
This quote resonates with the post because it highlights the importance of embracing change and looking towards the future. The decision made by the Ventura City Council to dismiss their city attorney signifies a significant change in their leadership and governance. It reminds us that in order to progress and evolve, we must be willing to let go of the past and make necessary changes
I was shocked to hear about the dismissal of the Ventura City Attorney, Andrew Heglund. I have been following the city council’s decisions closely, and this news came as a surprise to me.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a city council meeting where Heglund was present. It was a heated discussion about a controversial development project in our neighborhood. Heglund’s presence and expertise were evident as he calmly addressed the concerns raised by the community members.
During the