Read more: Local, Crime, Windy Price, Write in Candidate, Atlantic Beach Town Council, Charged with Interference Hindering Officers
An Atlantic Beach Town Council candidate in last November's election spent the night in jail along with her husband. The town accuses her of interfering with a police order to stay out of a condemned building.
Outside the Atlantic Beach Christian Methodist Episcopal Church you'll find yellow police tape, no trespassing signs, and condemnation notices.
Town manager William Booker said, "The church had been notified on several occasions over the last week or so that there were some serious safety violations that needed to be addressed, and once it was determined just what the severity of them, then the official placed the condemnation notice on the building."
Booker said the church has illegal and unsafe wiring.
Wednesday night, several people were gathered at the church, including recent Atlantic Beach Town Council candidate Windy Price and her husband Darnell Price.
Booker said he was told by Mr. Price on more than one occasion that they didn't intend to abide by the town's request to not occupy the building. He said when officers attempted to condemn the building, the Prices resisted and were arrested.
Both are charged with Interference and Hindering Officers Serving a Warrant.
Windy Price said the arrests are politically motivated. "Ever since winning the 2009 election council seat, the harrassment has stepped up a notch. Now to the point of taking our church. The building is not condemned. There is nothing that this town has to justify condemning this building."
Price has been involved in an on-going battle over last November's election results where she, a write-in candidate, defeated an incumbent. Booker said that had nothing to do with Price's arrest. "This is a situation where safety is at risk and people's lives are at risk. The building official told me there were some concerns about a possible electrocution, and I just could not afford to let that situation exist."
Price accuses the town of illegally entering the church and taking pictures. The town says the pictures were used to justify the condemnation of the building.
A judge recently upheld a decision by the State Election Commission to call for a new election in Atlantic Beach. Town officials say Price is protesting that decision.
