Buffalo Police arrested Erie County Legislator, Gregory B. Olma, on primary night, 2000, after two black election workers say Olma harassed and intimidated them while hurling racial and sexist epithets at them at a Fillmore Avenue polling place which is also a bar.
Olma, arrested late on Tuesday, September 12, at the polling place-- the Adam Mickiewicz Library and Dramatic Circle, at 612 Fillmore Ave -- was charged with nine counts of coercion, racial harassment, and resisting arrest.
Olma’s arrest arose out of an alleged incident, and after the two election workers, Karen Gregory, and Adrea Newbern, went to police to report that Olma became verbally and physically abusive with them.
THE ALLEGED INCIDENT
The women’s story is this: Olma, who was running for state committeemen, came into the polling place, and demanded to see the election results before the polls were closed.
The women refused his request.
Olma then threatened to “strike the women” and, allegedly, said “’You ****** bitches will not give me my numbers!,” and left the room briefly, to return with about 14 white men.
Newbern said, “I never encountered so much fear. I was fearful because (the 14 men) surrounded the table and demanded the elections results.”
Olma allegedly said “these ****ing bitches will not give me my numbers.”
Gregory then said she was going to call police.
“You’re not going to call the police,” Olma said, and grabbed the election results from her hands.
“He called us ‘****** bitches’... I was scared. I was just so scared..." said Gregory, “The votes were ripped out of our hands!”
When the women went to the adjoining barroom to ask to use the phone to call police, they were told they could not use the phone.
Olma, a four term democrat, whose district includes parts of Buffalo’s East side, and Cheektowaga, denied the allegations and said he had a poll watchers certificate, and had a legitimate right to see the election results. It is unclear, however, whether a poll watcher can legitimately view election results before the polls actually close.
Olma claimed he was “set up” by political rivals, and said the incident “never occurred.” He said in a statement: “I am very pissed off. My reputation is being slandered. I am not happy .My attorney has advised me not to speak to the press. I may speak at a later date.”
Olma also told the Buffalo News that it was "a nothing incident. There was nobody yelling or shouting. There was no racial epithet used by anyone. This was a totally mellow situation."
Both women, however, are steadfastly sticking to their story, saying that it was anything but a “mellow incident.”
WAS HE DRUNK?
Some have suggested that Olma’s recollection of the “mellow” events may have been clouded by alcohol, and that, contrarily, the women seemed visibly shaken by what had transpired at the polling place.
Officers who arrested Olma, about two hours after the incident, commented on how frightened the women seemed.
“When these women came to us they were very frightened and very upset," reports Lt. Mark Michalek, one of the arresting officers.
"I felt very sorry for them. They reported that they had been threatened by Olma, that if they didn't turn over the election returns, they would never work again for the Board of Elections."
"My heart went out to them," said Officer Richard Lopez "They were absolutely terrified.”.
Police also allege that Olma was drunk when they came to arrest him.
"Olma, definitely smelled of some alcoholic beverage,” said Michelek
Olma, however, denied he was intoxicated at the time of the arrest, saying he drank only one beer at Mickey’s.
But according to police Lt. Larry Baehre, Olma “had bloodshot eyes. And there was a strong smell of liquor or beer on his breath and about his person.”
Police ultimately had to subdue and handcuff the 250 pound Olma, after they say he became belligerent and continued to threaten the female complainants in police presence.
“He physically struggled with us and had to be forcefully subdued,” said Michalek
The Mickiewicz “library,” where the incident occurred, and where Olma was arrested, does not lend books, and is a tax payer supported, all white, members only club. Olma’s wife serves as the treasurer, and the Olma’s live across the street. The “library,” known to its patrons as “Mickey’s”, is primarily a liquor bar, and ethnic Polish club, and may be the only bar in Western New York which serves also as a polling place.
OLMA RUNS FROM PHOTOGRAPHERS
In a bizarre twist to the election night story, after Olma was arrested, booked, and then released from police headquarters - at about 2:30 am, TV photographers were waiting outside to film him. In widely aired videos, Olma is seen running from reporters, and, when questioned by them, appears dazed, and inarticulate. When asked if the women’s allegations were true, he looked vacantly, shrugged his shoulders, and said he didn’t know.
Then as cameramen attempted to film Olma as he was running in the streets, two men, who sources have identified as associates of Mr Olma, appear to run interference for him, and, at times, are seen on video blocking, and pushing at least one of the photographers, WIVB News 4 photographer, David Hutchinson.
Hutchinson complained of being punched and kicked by Olma’s associates and has filed a criminal complaint . As of this writing there have been no arrests made with regard to the assault charges.
The District Attorney’s office has subpoenaed the videos of WKBW TV 7 to ascertain whether or not additional charges are appropriate.
CALL FOR RESIGNATION
Meanwhile, on Thursday, a coalition of community groups called a press conference at the steps of city hall calling for Olma’s resignation, and asking the FBI to investigate the incident. Among the group were Buffalo Council Member at-Large Beverly Gray.
“Anyone who knows (Olma) socially knows his behavior and his opinion about blacks in the city of Buffalo” she said. Ms. Gray's opposition is significant in that, during last years primary election in the City of Buffalo, Ms. Gray was the top vote getter in the entire citywide election.
Frank Messiah, president of the local chapter of the NAACP, called for Olma’s resignation. Mr. Messiah's opposition comes one day after he was chosen to pose a question to Mrs. Clinton in the nationally televised US Senate race debate which was held in Buffalo Wednesday evening.
“If Mr. Olma sees African Americans as ‘n–s’ I would question his concern for the African Americans in his district.” he said.
Olma’s opponent in the primary was Steve Godzisz, who lost to Olma by four votes. He explained that Olma has long used racialist politics.
“The (coalition is) not going to let go of this.” said Godziisz “They know of Olma’s history of racism and how he treats black women.”
Olma recently distributed fliers accusing Godzisz of “splitting the white vote” and hurting the Polish community after Ellington became the first black council member to serve the Fillmore district.
“He has stepped over the line,” said Fillmore Council member, Karen Ellington who plans her own protest of Olma, “and we are going to do everything possible to see that justice is done.”
Meanwhile Olma faces a September 20th City Court appearance on the charges.
