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Medford police critic arrested for violation Mellgren: �He�s got to go by the rules. This is America.� By Dani Dodge A man who posts signs atop cranes criticizing Medford police and has a federal lawsuit pending against the department was arrested again this week. This time, it was for driving while suspended. Police said Dennis "Denny" Chancler, 57, of Central Point, drove his daughter to and from the DMV Wednesday � even though his license is restricted to driving to and from work. Police said they couldn�t ignore his flagrant law-breaking. "He�s got to figure out he�s got to go by the rules," said Medford Police Chief Eric Mellgren. "This is America." Chancler, whose suit alleges malicious prosecution, claimed it�s just more government harassment. It�s not his first time he�s been pulled over. Not by a long shot. After a drunken driving conviction in December 1999, Chancler�s drivers license was suspended. Again. It was his fifth DUII since 1973. But the Department of Motor Vehicles gave him a hardship permit that allows Chancler to drive to and from work. He owns Denny Chancler Equipment, a heavy equipment company that specializes in sales of industrial cranes. On Wednesday, two Medford detectives were at the DMV office picking up some reports on other cases when a manager there said a customer was causing problems. She pointed out Chancler, someone police know because of previous run-ins, and because he goes by the police station often to drop off The Oregon Observer, a constitutionalist publication. According to police reports, Chancler was there helping his 15-year-old daughter get her permit. After determining Chancler was allowed to drive only to and from work � and driving his daughter to DMV didn�t fit within those guidelines � the officers followed as Chancler drove away from DMV with his daughter and 14-year-old son in the GMC Yukon. Police said after Chancler made an improper turn, they hit the sirens and pulled him over at The Finish Line Car Wash on Court Street. He was arrested and lodged in the Jackson County Jail for driving while suspended and using an invalid license. His Yukon was towed. He bailed out of jail quickly and paid the fees to get his vehicle back. Friday, Chancler was out of town at a family reunion. He declined to discuss the case at length, but did say the truth will eventually come out. "I have a work license," he said. "My kids happened to be with me because I had a lot of business to take care of." Mellgren said that Chancler has one of the most lenient work permit�s he�s ever seen. Despite having a suspended license, Chancler can drive between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. throughout the United States and Canada. "He�s got a wide-open restriction � it�s hard to violate that," Mellgren said. "But he managed to do it anyway." In August 1999, Chancler filed a lawsuit against the city of Medford and naming several officers. The suit alleged deprivation of due process, deprivation of his fourth, fifth and 14th amendment rights, harassment, malicious prosecution, abuse of power, assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. "Obviously the city denies liability and has referred it to the insurance company for the defense of the case," said city attorney Ron Doyle. "No trial date has been set." In the meantime, Chancler has hoisted a new sign on the equipment at his business across from Costco high above Crater Lake Highway. It joins other signs accusing Medford police of lying, urging votes against County Commissioner Sue Kupillas, urging District Attorney Mark Huddleston to resign and reminding drivers: "Folks, please register to vote." The new sign says: "Chief Mellgren, stop abuse by police! We want video cameras in all police cruisers." Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA