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Mayor’s State of the City speech accuses others of misrepresenting parking-lot incident; asks for forensic review
Summary
In a lengthy State of the City, Mayor Mary Vida B. Williams disputed media coverage of a June parking-lot confrontation, denied assaulting an officer and said she will seek forensic audio analysis of video; she also named an associate (Keith Washington) and criticized a councilmember's public response.
Mayor Mary Vida B. Williams used the State of the City segment on Sept. 16 to address a June parking-lot incident and to challenge coverage and statements made by others about that encounter.
“I did not do so. I did touch Sergeant Miller with my finger as I was pointing at him, as I was completely rattled by that incident in the parking lot,” the mayor said, denying an assault while acknowledging she touched an officer. She said portions of video released publicly were cut and suggested sending the original footage for forensic audio analysis.
The mayor told the council she had witness statements that contradicted media accounts and criticized what she described as a narrative painting her as the aggressor. She named Keith Washington and said he had sought contracts from city staff, described his prior public-service roles in Maryland and said his alignment with a councilmember raised concerns for her. The mayor urged residents to engage in public life rather than rely on social-media posts and said she would stand with staff and officials.
Council and staff paused the meeting for a brief executive session after the speech and returned with no business announced coming out of executive session.
