During his short term as chief, Oaks frequently clashed with Los Angeles City Council member Ralph Luther Criswell.

"[5] Sinclair was arrested despite the fact that his appearance at the rally was already cleared by the office of Los Angeles Mayor George E. Cryer, which had declared it would allow him to exercise his free speech rights as long as he did not make an incitement to violence.

Oaks had issued a public statement, declaring, "I will prosecute Sinclair with all the vigor at my command, and upon his conviction I will demand a jail sentence with hard labor."

Chief Davis had planned to have Sinclair arraigned just before the close of court on Friday afternoon, effectively concealing his whereabouts by not pressing charges against him and movie him about in order to deny him his right to a writ of habeas corpus.

He was arrested by San Bernardino police, who discovered Oaks in the backseat of an automobile, accompanied by a "half-dressed woman and a half-empty bottle of whiskey.

"[9] Reform-minded Protestant clergymen, including the politically active radio preacher Robert P. "Fighting Bob" Shuler, who was the president of the Ministerial Union, targeted Oaks.