Police look into threat on former official

Deepa Bharath

Police are investigating an anonymous letter that threatens to pay

back a former planning commissioner who, in the late 1980s, helped

bring down a successful chain of seafood restaurants.

The letter, sent to the Daily Pilot and addressed to “Mr. Person,”

typed in all capital letters and written without periods, presumably

talks about getting back at former Planning Commissioner James “Buzz”

Person for helping police arrest Francis Delaney -- then-owner of

Delaney’s Seafood Restaurant in Cannery Village -- on bribery charges

13 years ago.

The restaurant was later bought and still continues to operate as

the Bluewater Grill.

Newport Beach Police have forwarded the letter to detectives for

further investigation, Sgt. Steve Shulman said.

“We take all threats seriously,” he said.

Detectives will first try to determine if it is a “real” threat or

a hoax, Shulman said.

“Then, of course, we will try to identify the individual or

individuals who wrote it,” he said.

In response, Person declined to comment.

The menacing letter, which the Pilot received Monday morning,

tells Person that “arrangements have been made” to have him “dropped

off in the Catalina Channel half way between Catalina and Laguna

Beach.”

“We might suggest you wear a long wire for this one,” the letter

states. “That shouldn’t be a problem. We all remember this is

something you were very good at.”

The letter says it is from the “old boys” who “got together

recently at the Bluewater Grill.” It adds that they were going to do

this for their “old friend Fran Delaney.”

It ends with a chilling warning that “this may take place in one

year or it may be five years.”

“We think part of the fun for you will be looking over your

shoulder wondering when the fun begins,” the letter says.

In 1989, Delaney pleaded guilty to one count of felony bribery in

connection with a $20,000 bribe he offered Person in March 1998.

Person wore a wire during a meeting with Delaney when the

restaurateur offered him the money in exchange for help with getting

a permit to exceed height limits on a new restaurant. Person recorded

the offer.

Delaney was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service, pay

a $5,000 fine and sentenced to three years of probation. State

officials took disciplinary action against Delaney, suspending his

liquor license for 10 days and, shortly afterward, Delaney’s company

filed for bankruptcy protection.

Delaney, who lives in Costa Mesa, said on Tuesday that he has no

idea who may have sent the threat.

“What a bunch of nuts,” he said, denouncing the writer of the

letter. “I would never go out of my way to hurt [Person]. I wouldn’t

go out of my way to help him, either.”

Delaney said Person caused him a heavy financial loss.

“He broke my back,” he said. “I lost my cash flow. I lost millions

and I lost my restaurants. But I’m a happy person today and I feel

sorry for the people who wrote this letter. I have nothing to do with

the letter.”

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.