Deadly Ghost Ship fire report may soon be released
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- It's been over three months since the deadly Ghost Ship fire in Oakland that left 36 people dead and so far there has been no official cause yet, or charges filed.
The Alameda County District Attorney's Office is still waiting for a report from the city of Oakland.
The report could be available to the District Attorney's Office as early as Sunday.
RELATED: Report alleges Ghost Ship fire started next door
The Ghost Ship is in the district represented by City Council Member Noel Gallo. "I'm surprised that we're here today in this dispute publicly, but again it's not the first time, it won't be the last time," Gallo said.
He says the city and county have long had a contentious relationship. Now, there seems to be some friction between District Attorney Nancy O'Malley's office and Oakland City Attorney Barbara Parker's office.
In emails obtained by the East Bay Times, one of O'Malley's deputies sent a letter to one of Parker's deputies last month demanding a draft report under review. "If the Oakland Fire Department has submitted a report to your office for review, a copy of the unredacted, unedited report must also be submitted to the prosecuting agency for review."
"The district attorney's office doesn't want a sugar coated, pre-packaged version of the facts. The district attorney is the main investigative criminal arm of this county. They want to know what happened, when it happened, what did you see?" criminal defense attorney Daniel Horowitz said.
Horowitz reviewed this for ABC7 News and says fire investigators have an obligation to turn over all evidence to the prosecutor's office.
If charges are ever filed, it could affect the case. "This game playing by the city of Oakland will be used by defense attorneys for the truly culpable people to say to the jury, there is a conspiracy to shift blame to my client," Horowitz said.
In a written statement to ABC7 News, city attorney chief of staff Alex Katz says they are fully cooperating and added: "There is no dispute. The city is not withholding any information from the district attorney's office."
However, he says the report has still not been turned over to the district attorney as requested.
PHOTOS: A look inside the Oakland Ghost Ship collective warehouse
Click here for all ABC7 News stories, videos, and photos from the Ghost Ship warehouse fire.
