Carmel gallery owner who got into altercation with city administrator intends to sue.

Craig Rose, the Carmel gallery owner who engaged in a physical altercation with City Administrator Chip Rerig on Sept. 28, has signaled his intention to sue Rerig and the city.

Rose and Rerig were in a verbal argument in front of Rose's gallery when things suddenly turned physical. From a cell phone video taken by a witness, it appears Rose pulled off Rerig's hat and glasses, at which point Rerig swings toward Rose, although it's not clear if contact was actually made. 

Carmel Community Development Director Brandon Swanson stepped in between the two men and kept them apart. Rerig accused Rose of head-butting him, Rose accused Rerig of striking him. 

Rose's wife and gallery co-owner, Daisy Rose, addressed the Carmel City Council during its meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 3, claiming that her husband received a blow to the left side of the head. She also claimed she took him to the hospital with concussion-type symptoms the day after the incident, where he underwent a CT scan and was told to go home and rest. 

Daisy Rose said they had retained attorney Lizelle Singian Brandt, of Singian Law, based in Pasadena, with the intention of suing Rerig and the city.

"My husband is a very passionate man with a unique perspective and he's not afraid to stand up and speak up," she said. Daisy Rose said she had never seen her husband be violent.

Rose has been angry with the Carmel City Council over its decision last month to preserve a decorative concrete wall that is standing in the way of the design of a multi-use commercial building proposed by developer Patrice Pastor. He's accused the city of "racism," against Pastor, who is from Monaco. (The Weekly has been unable to confirm Pastor's racial identity.) 

The Council has met twice in closed session since the incident, but City Attorney Brian Pierik announced at the meeting on Tuesday he had nothing to report out of their sessions. Rerig also said nothing about the incident during the meeting.

The Weekly contacted Rerig on Monday, Oct. 2. He referred all questions to Carmel Assistant City Administrator Maxine Gullo and Pierik. Neither has responded to requests for a statement.