PAHRUMP, NV (FOX5) -
Pahrump residents at odds with the town board over incorporation attempted to make citizen arrests on three members during a heated meeting Tuesday night.
In video captured by KPVM-TV, Nye County Republican Central Committee Chairman Bill Carns walked up to the town board and announced his intention to arrest three Pahrump Town Board members.
Carns was flanked by other meeting attendees who apparently supported the move.
Carns told town board members they were violating their oath of office which, he said, is a Class D felony.
The violation he spoke of stemmed from a law stating the town board is not allowed to repeal an ordinance without a citizen vote.
According to the Pahrump Valley Times, the ordinance at odds was Town Ordinance 46, which deals with the incorporation of the town.
The ordinance has been in place since 2005, which places the ultimate incorporation question on residents in Pahrump.
However, Carns said board members tried to go around the ordinance, leading residents to storm the meeting.
"We have probable cause and elements to a crime," Carns, a former Nevada peace officer, announced to the board. "I am placing you under arrest. I am filing these charges."
The three people reportedly the target of the attempted arrests were board members Vicky Parker, Tom Waters and Harley Kulkin.
Parker told FOX5 she and the other two board members were not arrested or jailed.
"The [Nye County] Sheriff's office actually protected us," Parker said.
She added the whole incident was laughable.
Parker explained the reason the city was trying to repeal the 2005 ordinance was because their legal council told them it was "probably unconstitutional."
She stated nobody in the town wants to incorporate, but those who were angry Tuesday wanted the repealing of the ordinance up for vote, not just repealed by the board.
The next Pahrump Town Board meeting is scheduled for June 26.
Copyright 2012 KVVU (KVVU Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.
Carns (center, dark shirt) announced his intention to arrest three Pahrump Town Board members. (KVMP-TV)
