Video shared with ABC7 Eyewitness News showed some of the confrontations Brugnara had with the public.<\/p>\n
LUKE BRUGNARA: “This is actually on our– right where that line is, is our property, so you’re actually standing on our property.”<\/p>\n
DOG WALKER: “Alright, are you going to shoot me for it?”<\/p>\n
One couple accused Brugnara of saying, “If you get near the fence, I will shoot and kill you.”<\/p>\n
They called 911. Police arrived and stopped Brugnara’s girlfriend driving away with a 9mm Glock in an unlocked case on the front seat, Brugnara in the back. They arrested Brugnara for felon in possession of a firearm and making threats.<\/p>\n
I-TEAM EXCLUSIVE: Meet the man behind controversial Thornton State Beach fence in Daly City<\/a><\/p>\n The Thornton Beach case got the attention of federal prosecutors. Brugnara has an ongoing pandemic relief fraud case. He’s accused of lying about the size of his company, the number of employees, its payroll and receiving $422,000 that he used to purchase a house. In February, Brugnara failed to attend a hearing to revoke his bond in that case, so the judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest.<\/p>\n Last Thursday, US Marshals surrounded this house in the Sunset District. Prosecutors say Brugnara tried to escape by climbing onto the roof of the church next door.<\/p>\n Brugnara told the court, “I never climbed on any church. The church roof is eight stories tall. OK, how can I go eight stories when it’s a one-story house? It’s a lie.”<\/p>\n In court, Brugnara also denied knowing about the February hearing or the arrest warrant that followed.<\/p>\n “I was not notified by my attorney,” he said. “I’m legally required to notification by counsel of a court hearing to be held as a failure to appear. OK, I did not appear because I was not notified of the hearing.”<\/p>\n RELATED: Daly City officials remove controversial fence at Thornton State Beach<\/a><\/p>\n But in their court filings, prosecutors cited our exclusive report from February in which we questioned Brugnara about being a wanted man.<\/p>\n DAN NOYES: “There’s a bench warrant. Are you going to turn yourself in?”<\/p>\n LUKE BRUGNARA: “I’m, I’m, I’m not aware of any bench warrant. That’s the surprise, I guess, of the day.”<\/p>\n Prosecutors wrote, “He certainly knew that a warrant existed after (that interview). Again, he took no steps to remedy his failure to appear.”<\/p>\n RELATED: Judge denies couple’s restraining order to keep up Thornton State Beach fence<\/a><\/p>\n Brugnara’s attorney proposed allowing him to be released while the case proceeds, with an ankle monitor and a $ 50,000 cash bond. Brugnara chimed in that his blood pressure was dangerously high.<\/p>\n LUKE BRUGNARA: “This my liberty that you’re playing with.”<\/p>\n JUDGE LISA CISNEROS: “I’m trying to get a word in and explain.”<\/p>\n LUKE BRUGNARA: “I know, but you’re trying to steal from me — possibly my life. I could die tonight from a heart attack or stroke. You don’t care.”<\/p>\n JUDGE CISNEROS: “I do care.”<\/p>\n
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