Charges Not Filed Against Vocal City Government Critic

Charges have not been filed against a man arrested during last month’s State of the City address, according to the Fremont Argus. 

John Henneberry, 45, spent 32 hours in jail after being arrested April 18 over a seating dispute, the Argus reports. He learned the case had been dropped when he appeared for his scheduled arraignment on Wednesday. 

According to the Argus, Henneberry is a harsh critic of Newark’s governance and leadership. He believes that he did nothing wrong and that the arrest was “payback.” 

Henneberry has been vocal on local issues, especially city employee salaries. As Patch previously reported, Henneberry stood outside of a city meeting last April with a large sign listing government salaries. Last July, he got hostile at a meeting, shouted at Mayor Al Nagy and calling him a “twisted freak,” according to the Argus. 

Henneberry told the newspaper that he was arrested after he sat in the gallery section of the Newark Hilton for Nagy’s address. He said that the event flyer stated that the seating would be free after 12:20 p.m. but that he was still asked to leave. Henneberry refused, leading to his subsequent arrest.  

But Newark police said the flyer also stated that reservation was required, and that Henneberry had not followed the proper procedure.    

Henneberry also has issues with being held at Santa Rita Jail rather than being cited and released, and may consider filing a lawsuit against the police department. 

Read the full Argus report here.