Residents tell Crestview council Mayday policing left neighborhoods blocked off and urged joint debrief with city

Scores of Crestview residents raised concerns at the May 27 special meeting about the city’s policing and barricade plan during the Mayday festivities, saying streets were blocked, vehicles were redirected and local businesses and residents were effectively restricted from moving around a traditional parade footprint.

Marcia Thomas, speaking to the council, said she felt Mayor Whitten had been “very disingenuous” for attending community commemorations but not coordinating with the police on Mayday street closures. Club operator Aletha Morris said Club Alibi (transcribed also as Club Alabahi) had no prior problems with police during years of operation but that officers came to individual vehicles, stopped access to the business and posted “no parking” signs along side streets. “They’re targeting and harassing,” Morris said, and asked to be placed on a future council agenda to present video and request body‑worn camera footage.

Multiple speakers described heavy deployments and blocked streets. One resident estimated “at least 20” officers near the club location where a barricade blocked access; another said there were “over a hundred police officers” across the event. Residents named streets they said were affected, including McClellan, Margot Kingsley Avenue, Duggan Avenue, Bay Street and portions of Main Street. Vendor operators said they were stopped or shut down during Mayday even though they had previously participated in other city events without incident. Food truck owner Nikia Bradshaw said she had been told she needed a business tax receipt at Mayday even though city staff later told her she did not need it for other city events.

Council members and city staff responded on the record. Councilman Shannon Hayes said the city manager is the council’s primary contact for operational questions and encouraged residents to meet with the city manager to request documents and video. City Manager staff indicated they would meet with residents who requested emails or documentation and that the chief of police reports to the city manager. Dominique Vaughn, executive assistant to the mayor, said the city would follow up with the events office and the city’s events coordinator has the food‑vendor contact information.

Connie Seiler, a resident who said a community committee previously formed after the helicopter activity at a past Mayday, urged the council to schedule a pre‑event meeting with community representatives to review crowd‑management plans before next year. The city manager’s office agreed to assist with scheduling and the mayor’s office will help coordinate a debrief and planning meeting before the next Mayday.

Speakers requested specific materials: one person said an ATF investigator had previously advised that liquor‑license concerns should be handled by federal investigators, and several asked the council to request body‑worn camera footage and city video for review. The council did not take an immediate operational vote but directed staff to meet with organizers and provide requested materials and follow up with a public debrief prior to next year’s event.