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Patterson City Council Members Separated By Restraining Order

PATTERSON (CBS13) — A fight between two city council members in Patterson has gotten so bad a judge was forced to intervene by granting a restraining order.

It all started when one of them allegedly made a threat during a closed-door meeting, and now a restraining order has been issued—but it only applies to the world outside of city hall.

The drama at Patterson City Hall is between two councilmembers. A judge ruled City Councilwoman Councilwoman Sheree Lustgarten must stay 100 yards away from City Councilman Dennis McCord—an extension of a restraining order issued months ago.

"She bullies, intimidates people—she's a large woman," McCord said. "So the issue isn't really what she's going to do to you when your looking it's what she'll do when you're not looking."

Lustgarten doubts McCord's fears are genuine.

"I don't know; he's been sitting on the dais ever since they have him the restraining order on the first place so I don't think he's that afraid," she said.

The city sought the restraining order after city employees claimed they heard Lustgarten make a physically threatening remark about McCord following a closed session.

"It doesn't affect how the city is run," said city attorney Doug White. "It creates an interesting and unique dynamic."

The two normally sit next to each other, but on Tuesday night, they were separated by several seats.

The restraining order is set to last until February 2017.

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