Residents accuse officer of witness intimidation and call for accountability at Lake City council meeting

During public comment at the Lake City Council's March 31 meeting, several residents and an attorney representing a resident criticized council conduct at a prior meeting and urged the city to investigate alleged police misconduct.

Leslie Jean Bart, identifying herself as an attorney representing Sylvester Warren, said she watched the earlier meeting online and warned that "there is without a doubt that there are employees who ... would have been fired immediately" if they had behaved similarly in a workplace. Bart urged the council to ensure a zero-tolerance workplace policy and to protect speakers' First Amendment rights during public comment.

Bart told the council she became involved after an allegation that a city officer went to a local Lowe's and told employees that Warren was stealing; Bart said witnesses later told internal affairs the officer threatened them. She asked the council to investigate and to ensure citizens are treated "with respect and dignity."

Glenel Bevan, who said he is a friend of Sylvester Warren, also criticized how the council handled the prior meeting and warned that citizens should not be intimidated at public hearings. "I would hate that they come when we have an issue in the community ... and can't just deal with them because he's an activist," Bevan said, arguing speakers must be allowed to use the public forum.

Sylvester Warren addressed the council at length, sharply criticizing City Attorney Clay Martin, the police department and several council members. Warren called Martin "intellectually lazy" and accused the police department of being costly and poorly managed; he proposed consolidating police services to save taxpayers, a claim he said would reduce costs by "anywhere between 5 to $7,000,000 a year." Warren also said he would not "acquiesce" to officials he described as "flunkies" and defended his use of the public forum.

Vanessa Jordan, a Lake City resident, said she agreed with Warren and expressed disappointment that the council — especially its Black members — has not delivered services to the Black community. She said the council must take stronger actions when disruptions occur and asked what steps the council would take after the earlier meeting.

Mayor Walker closed public comment after three speakers. The meeting included no formal action, vote or staff direction recorded in the transcript in response to the allegations raised during public participation.