Published July 23, 2007 We have seen the video, and we have seen some written documentation, but we never heard from the people involved directly! You now have the opportunity, given to us by the local radio talk show: The Burnie Thompson Show.
His guest on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 was LINDA
PENDER, CHAIRMAN of OWNERS WHO
CARE -- A RECALL GROUP founded by owners of the FONTAINEBLEAU
TERRACE OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. in
His
guest on Friday early morning was LYNDA KILLINGSWORTH, Director of CCFJ,
Inc., the Please CLICK HERE to listen to Burnie chatting with Lynda!
And we finally heard from the Panama City Beach Police Department. MAJOR DAVID W. HUMPHREYS, spokesman for the PCBPD, came to the show and talked with Burnie. Please CLICK HERE to listen to the interview!
Not only was Humphreys ill-prepared -- couldn't answer important questions and claimed that certain documents were not available -- his version was surely different from the scenes we saw on the video. (Please see video at: CONDO MANAGER BULLIES HIS WAY INTO "OWNERS ONLY" MEETING ) The
laws of physics tell me that the person committing the battery must make a
forward movement to instigate the battery. Steve Bell, the owner arrested
for committing battery on CAM Ray McDonald, was standing in front of the
door, blocking access to the room of the OWNERS' ONLY meeting. CAM
McDonald and Officer Nichols can be seen standing in front of the door.
For Steven Bell to commit battery he has to make a forward movement
-- correct? Let's say
I still think that it happened exactly like we see it on the video: CAM McDonald and Officer Nichols forced their way -- like storm troopers -- into the room and the ladies standing inside the room were injured by Steven Bell being pushed against them! Period! Anything else would contradict PHYSICS 101!
Leaving the question: Why was Steven Bell arrested for battery -- and not Ray McDonald? It sure doesn't make sense!
Major Humphreys' statement -- as well in regards to the attempted filing of the complaint later that afternoon by the injured parties -- was immediately rebutted by Wanda Ford, the owner who filmed the incident and suffered a concussion during the scuffle. Just listen to her version of what happened in Part II of the sequence!
It is obvious that the Police Department, City Manager Richard Jackson, and the City Council missed a great opportunity to appease the owners by having a "real" investigation -- not just a cover-up. Some apologies might have gone a long way to make amends. I don't think there is even an argument that something went definitely wrong. Too many questions were left unanswered -- including "What was the police officer doing in a private building?" and "Who called the police at what time for assistance?" and "When did the police really arrive?"
All of these questions and more will now be answered in a civil suit paid by taxpayers' money! But who cares? Plenty of money available -- they just need to raise the property taxes! THIS IS A CONDO BUST -- NOT A DRUG BUST! Condo Owners Cry Police Brutality CONDO MANAGER BULLIES HIS WAY INTO "OWNERS ONLY" MEETING |
