Local Coffee Shop owner Manthri Srinath at it again - threatens homeless man

Oct 13, 2006
Local coffee shop owner at it again
by Tim Rumford – guitarandpen [at] hotmail.com

It is a sad day in Santa Cruz when a terminally ill person is forced to the streets, only to be told how useless and unwanted he is - harassed and forced to call the police for help -- only to receive the opposite.


Shane Maxfield’s Story - from Shane's own account.

On Sept 26th, Shane Maxfield sat close to LuLu Carpenters, legally, ten feet away from the property with a sign. The sign read -
“Temporarily houseless due to fire. I offer Free Tech Service! Email me! Windows XP Support, Mac Support, Terminally Ill, very sick! Thank You!”

Shane has Aids, is truly very ill, lost his home after a fire, and does do tech work for people free who are homeless or simply broke. Shane lets people choose if they wish to speak to him and help him. This day he needed propane for warmth. Shane was there for about an hour when Manthri Srinath, LuLu Carpenters owner came out and ordered him off the mall. He then got right in Shane’s face and began a rant of threats and offensive abusive language. Saying to Shane, “We don’t like your kind here. You are a freeloader. I can ruin your whole life!” Shane asked who the man was, noting he did not have a badge.

Shane stayed in a sitting position during the entire incident with his bunny. At one point Shane lost control of his anger after the repeated threats and said "you fucker".
Manthri Srinath refused to tell him his name and continued to harass and threaten Shane. He paced back and forth telling him how he could make Shane's life a living hell. Shane called the police and although Manthri Srinath claimed to have called them as well, the police confirmed to me - Shane was the only one to call.

When the police arrived, Unlike Manthri Srinath, he gave an apology, although insincere and at the suggestion of the officer. Shane pointed out this was an admission of guilt to officer Jeffery Caldridge, badge number 125. The officer said because Manthri Srinath did not threaten his life (“I will ruin your whole life”), that he broke no laws. He also pointed out that Shane was legal and obeying all laws regarding panhandling.

Shane had called his caretaker for a rescue prior to his call to the police. He was shaken and unable to leave on his own.

The police then forced Shane to listen to more of Manthri Srinath's tirade. He continued to use threatening language in front of officer Jeffery. The officer then told Shane, although he was legal, if he did not move along “he smelled a ticket coming his way”. He also mentioned that it was Manthri Srinath giving him the ticket. While Shane waited for his ride, his rescue - he was given a ticket for panhandling while using offensive language – from the officer he called for protection.

I am concerned about these laws and the apparent police collusion regarding this issue. After calling 911, Shane wanted, needed and deserved protection from an abusive and threatening merchant. The police failed in protecting Shane’s rights. I consider this a hate crime and abuse by a police officer who was called to protect Shane, not Manthri Srinath who has a past of such offensives including throwing hot coffee on a protester across the street and on a homeless man in his own establishment.

Police are supposed to be here to help every human - not just storeowners. I understand the issues the storeowners face with the large homeless population we have, but Manthri Srinath's actions are not the way to treat any human being. Please email me if you witnessed this incident or have had any similar problems at LuLu Carpenters. One more thing - Step up and step out of LuLu Carpenters for good! Three strikes you are out.
Tim Rumford guitarandpen [at] hotmail.com
LuLu Carpenters
1545 Pacific Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831-429-9804
Past incidents include the following, documented here at Indybay -
• Coffee house owner faces battery charge in dousing http://santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/display/3577/index.php
• LULU CARPENTERS MANAGER ATTACKS VIGILERS http://santacruz.indymedia.org/mod/comments/display/3531/index.php
• A Lulu Carpenters manager threw cups at one woman and coffee at another vigiler and declared all protesters were barred from the cafe after a bill dispute.
http://santacruz.indymedia.org/mod/comments/display/3531/index.php