The uproar from a racial slur being used at a Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting may lead to a criminal charge after Sheriff Michael Johnson has stepped up. During a public comment period about tiny houses last Tuesday Alex Bielecki used the “N” word while complaining about declining property values. Black activist Nathan “Blaze” Pinkney reacted by loudly demanding that Bielecki leave. Supervisor Mary Rickert suggested that the use of such offensive language should result in the ejection of the offending speaker, and supervisor Tim Garmin backed her up. Bielecki was then allowed to return to the podium, during which he held up his middle finger to blaze. Board Chair Patrick Jones defended the use of the offensive language as a First Amendment issue and ejected Blaze from the chambers for speaking out of order. He was escorted out by private security rather than a Sheriff’s Deputy because he had broken no law. The Sheriff’s Office has released a statement saying a request has been filed with the District Attorney’s Office that Bielecki be charged with a 415 (3). It can be charged as either a misdemeanor or an infraction and states that ”Any person who uses offensive words in a public place which are inherently likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction”. The Sheriff’s Office statement mentions Bielecki’s history of being offensive at board meetings, including making threats against Board Member Les Baugh that had him banned from meetings for a while.