On Wednesday, the Fairbanks District Attorney’s office filed one count of fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor, against 50-year-old Carey William Bliss.
The Census worker, only identified by his initials in charging documents, went to Bliss’ Tall Spruce Road home June 2 looking for information from Bliss.
Bliss reportedly was uncooperative and grabbed Census forms from the worker, according to a criminal complaint filed in court.
Bliss then said, “I know how to get you off my property,” went to a bulldozer in his yard and started it, court documents allege.
The worker then got in his car and backed out of Bliss’ driveway as Bliss followed him in the bulldozer, stopping at the end of the driveway.
Ruben Del Valle, a spokesman for the Census Bureau in Alaska, said that while there have been reports of violence toward Census workers in other parts of the country, it was the first such incident he had heard about in Alaska, home to Noorvik, the first U.S. city to be counted in this year’s Census.
Census workers receive training on how to deal with such situations, which they then report to supervisors, he said.
While Bliss marked his property with “No trespassing” signs, according to charging documents, Del Valle said courts repeatedly have found that Census workers are not violating any laws if they are only going to a door seeking information.
Bliss has no prior criminal record and was not arrested in connection in the case. Court records do not list a lawyer for him or any upcoming court dates.
A listed phone number for Bliss went to a fax machine.
Contact staff writer Chris Freiberg at 459-7545.
In this day and age, you would think it could all be done online or by phone.
Some of you on here need to be an adult. These people are just doing their jobs. Some of you make it seem like these people are here to harm you. Taking this Alaskan privacy thing way too far. And as for Bliss, I hope his life is bliss when he's paying a fine for his actions. SMH (shaking my head)
Once they hit the part of the operation where workers are knocking on your door, the forms are now a part of that worker's workload and can't be left with you to be filled out and turned in. But, making that phone call to the person who's just doing their job & asking you to give them a call, would be both courteous and responsible citizenship.
As someone who lived in Fairbanks a long time (even before the pipeline days), I firmly expect to catch a bunch of flak for pointing this fact out to you.
They often show up even after you have sent in the mail-in form. But feel free to bend over, grab your ankles and take it while smiling and saying "Thank you sir, may I have another" anytime someone from the govt. tells you to do so.
I threw it away. Big **DUH** there. They are being paid from the neck down, but this is where your federal funding and so-called 'representation' in DC comes from.
Pat
Can't call the cops, you're liable to get shot off the dozer...
Seriously, I'll deal with any problems myself before calling any troopers around here.
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