Condo Owners Cry Police Brutality  Watch VIDEO Published July 13, 2007   Article and Video Courtesy of News 13(ABC)WMBB   Reporter Bree Sison     Arrested condo-owner Steve Bell

Fountainbleau Condo Owners Meeting Controversy  Watch VIDEO Published July 13, 2007   Video Courtesy of Channel 7 -- WJHG.COM

News 13 On your Side (ABC) WMBB
Condo Owners Cry Police Brutality

Thursday, Jul 12, 2007

Several condo owners on Panama City Beach showed up at the City Council meeting on Thursday to ask for help in what they call a police bullying case.

Their elected advocate, Lynda Killingsworth, says a meeting of Fontainebleau Terrace condo residents turned ugly back in June when uninvited condo manager Ray McDonald shoved his way into the meeting. The condo owners were meeting to discuss, among other things, recalling their board and firing the manager.

At the meeting, witnesses say McDonald, with the help of Panama City Beach Police knocked an elderly woman to the floor and arrested a man named Steve Bell. 

Bell says he was simply standing at the door and was knocked over in the scuffle before being hauled off to jail. He says so far no one has been willing to take his side.

Panama City Beach Police claim they have yet to receive a formal complaint against the officers involved, but that should the proper paperwork be filled out, they will be happy to look into the allegations.

Maj. Dave Humphreys of PCPD says a video taken by one of the condo owners appears to confirm officers accounts that Bell assaulted the police prior to being arrested.

Killingsworth says the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has been notified of the incident and that Governor Charlie Crist has also seen videotape of the incident. 

Killingsworth has also sent an e-mail to Police Chief Harding asking for an investigation but Maj. Humphreys says Killingsworth was not present at the meeting and therefore cannot make the official complaint.

Panama City Beach City Council asked their City Manager to look into the incident but stopped short of ordering an independent investigation, saying they do not have the authority to make such an order.