He gave these folks a place to remain and a space for their artwork and their creativity,' she mentioned. Mack says Almena's wife Micah Allison was at all times by his side. Don't forget his spouse, she was there co-signing the whole lot,' she stated. She added: 'Throughout the walls of essentially the most lovely temple dwelling tribute tied certain nailed erected and held along with love and blood. Mack mentioned a man called Max Ohr - nicknamed 'Warlord' - was Almena's proper-hand man and would often do the leader's bidding. It's believed Ohr, who escaped the blaze on Friday, was running the door for the rave that night. The violent side of the Almena's group has additionally been uncovered in court docket papers and by the testimony of other tenants who lived beneath Almena's rule and guests to the warehouse. Travel: Almena seems to have used traditional masks from Indian theater to make this display.
Last yr Almena was accused by artists and events producers of stealing tools, breaking contracts, and making violent threats, based on court docket documents. Philippe Lewis said that he rented the Ghost Ship for an event on January 3, 2015, however that Almena demanded extra cash for the space. During the incident, it was claimed, Almena locked people into the converted warehouse and held them captive. In a petition for a restraining order filed with the Alameda Superior Court, Lewis alleged that Almena threatened him. I'll get my gun,' he allegedly instructed Lewis, who had seen a field of new bullets while within the property. He also claims he was attacked, sustained a dislocated shoulder and was kicked in the pinnacle by Almena's henchmen - who assaulted Lewis on their leader's orders. He also says claims he saw evidence of a gun and bows and crossbow weapons on the property. Almena referred to as the warehouse alternately the Ghost Ship or the Satya Yuga collective.
Cult-like: Derick Ion Almena's artwork appeared to use parts of Hindu mysticism - such as the statue of Shiva in the big eyed unicorn stuffed animal middle and items taken from different religions with two statues of Mary, the mother of Christ from Christian tradition surrounding it. Derick Ion Almena (left), 46, leased the 'Ghost Ship' warehouse. Symbolism: The best way during which Aleman mixed religious imagery and different gadgets is clear. The swastika (center) is an emblem of good fortune . Sinister: Skulls and skull figurines, a bow with arrows, unicorn statues and candles stuffed a crowded area in a single room. He even attempted to take a restraining order out against a tenant who complained about situations in the warehouse. The tenant, Shelley Mack, fell out with him in an indignant dispute over the unsafe and unsanitary situations within the 'commune'. Describing him as a 'cult chief' she stated Almena threatened her a number of occasions and certainly one of his followers pulled a gun on her.
It was a cult when you believed what Derick had to say, however I did not,' she said. But there have been people who did believe him though. When you did not follow him then they'd threaten your life, pull guns on you, turn your electricity off. I had one pal in there who was a diabetic and Derick stole his drugs and his truck and kicked him out and referred to as the police. In the event you didn't present that you simply had been keen to do whatever he wanted you to do, you have been on the out. If you happen to did not buy in to the way things have been run they ostracized you, kicked you out and saved your cash and your issues. Mysticism: Almena displayed what appear to be objects from a Hindu temple on the left blended with African tribal masks and a portrait of Christ. Association: The Ghost Ship - which additionally known as itself Satya Yuga, went out of its approach to appear related to religion, including this image on its web site of what appears to be an Indian sadhu - a Hindu holy man (right).