The embattled Sarasota Police Department has received another verbal barrage, this time from the city’s legal department.
City Attorney Bob Fournier recently sent an eight-page memo to Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown, blasting some police actions involving two cases that resulted in confiscation of cash and drugs.
Police officials say they believed the cash resulted from drug sales. City settlement agreements with the parties involved disagreed with that view, and a judge decided the city should return the money to the two parties; he directed the police to do so.
The police refused to return the cash, city reports say.
Fournier’s memo to Brown followed.
Known for his generally calm demeanor, Fournier fired off his missive to Brown on Oct. 26.
Setting the stage for Fournier’s memo to Brown was a statement that said, in part, "I decided that the subject matter was serious enough and complex enough to warrant a written memorandum to document what has occurred from my perspective."
Fournier noted that an e-mail from his office, dated Aug. 31, inquired about the drug purchase, money confiscation and related issues; it received no response. He later got word from Sarasota Police officers that they "just knew" the cash confiscated was drug money.
Further discussions ensued between Fournier and police officials, according to his memo. Then the issue grew nasty.
In conversations with Acting Chief Lucius Bonner and Fournier, the city attorney said, "detectives were ‘just beside themselves’ over this case, and that they were telling [me] that they ‘really believe they have evidence that will show that this is drug money.’ After hearing that, I found myself yelling into the phone, [the following is in all capital letters in the e-mail, signifying screaming], ‘Well, it’s a little late for that now!’ The line, ‘They’re not the only ones who are beside themselves!’" also was in all caps.
Checks were eventually cut to Crystal Clyburn – in the amount of $10,225 – and to Van Ness Law Group, P.A./IOTA Trust Account on behalf of Tomas Joseph.
In related police matters, Monday’s city commission saw a spate of prominent citizens speak on behalf of Police Chief Peter Abbott, who has been suspended with pay. All extolled his professionalism and urged his re-appointment.
Abbott was suspended by City Manager Robert Bartolotta in June after an incident involving a drunk-and-disorderly arrest. Abbott admitted culpability in directing a city risk management official to offer the suspect money to absolve the city of any liability in the matter.