Oro Valley Police Release Surveillance Video, Waters Lashes At Resident

June 25, 2015 ADI Staff Reporter

The Oro Valley Police Department has released the surveillance video which shows the altercation between Oro Valley Vice-Mayor Lou Waters and an Oro Valley resident. The quality of the video is poor, as a result it is difficult to see how the Oro Valley Police determined that the resident “deliberately” fell after Waters lashes out at him.

The poor quality video shows the resident shoving papers in front of Waters to block the camera as he walks away. Waters then lashes out and the man turns toward Waters, falling in the process. According to the resident, he has a weak ankle which gave out when turned back to Waters.

The Oro Valley Police have refused to answer why only the resident was charged in the incident.

Residents say they felt intimidated by Waters and were made uncomfortable by an elected official taking pictures of them. They were delivering petitions for the recall of Mayor Satish Hiremath.

Oro Valley Police claimed, in a Facebook post, that the resident, Thomas Kamoske, age 63, was caught on video “deliberately falling to the ground.” Waters claimed that he was injured when his camera was shoved into his face, but that does not appear on the video. Waters does not give any indication in the video that he was injured.

According to one resident who asked not to be identified, Waters blocked his exit from the building as well. As a result, residents are considering pursuing a civil rights violation claim. Residents say that they do not understand why the police stood by and allowed the pro-Hiremath crowd to intimidate them and make passage difficult.

Organizers delivered 3,442 signatures to the Town Clerk. A total of only 2765 were needed to force a recall of the Mayor.

Former CNN Anchor Waters playing photog for gauntlet
Former CNN Anchor Waters playing photog for gauntlet
OVPD Officer Kara Riley stated, "A path was clear for the resident’s as seen in the surveillance video. " The video shows Waters standing in the pathway, while taking photos of residents as they approach the Town Clerk's office.
OVPD Officer Kara Riley stated, “A path was clear for the resident’s as seen in the surveillance video. ” The video shows Waters standing in the pathway, unlike the members of the gaunlet, while taking photos of residents as they approach the Town Clerk’s office.

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