Former Hewitt City Councilman, Kurt Krakowian, posted on his Facebook page Tuesday his intention to file a civil rights complaint against the City of Hewitt. Krakowian claimed the city violated his right to freely enter a public meeting.
Krakowian posted a video to his page Monday night that shows him trying to enter the city council meeting Monday but he's confronted by Hewitt Police Chief Jim Devlin and escorted to a small room in the lobby of city hall.
Devlin says to Krakowian "They are going to criminal trespass you because there is an ongoing hostile work environment complaint and being disruptive."
A short time later, Devlin returns and tells Krakowian he can go to the meeting. The next four to five minutes of the video is Krakowian sitting quietly in the meeting.
Krakowian resigned July 13 as Hewitt City Councilman At-Large. It came after he was named by city employees alleging harassment and retaliation.
In Krakowian's post on Tuesday he also claimed he had been contacted by several civil rights attorneys and that he may file a lawsuit against the city for violating his civil rights.
City spokesperson Adam Miles sent the following statement to Channel 6 Tuesday afternoon.
Due to the nature of active claims of creating a hostile work environment and retaliation against Mr. Krakowian by multiple City Employees, there was a possibility that Mr. Krakowian might attempt be disruptive or intimidating to employees during the City Council meeting.
To protect those employees the City was prepared to issue a criminal trespass warning to him if he acted in a manner that was disruptive or intimidating.
I understand he may have live streamed his attendance at the Council meeting last night. I have not had an opportunity to review any video related to any claim Mr. Krakowian may have made.
I understand the video shows he was pulled off to the side as he entered City Hall, after a brief and courteous conversation with Chief Devlin, he was asked to wait for a moment in a small meeting room in the front lobby of City Hall. I believe the Chief then checked with the City Attorney to see if there were any issues with him attending. It was determined he did not present a threat and was welcomed to the meeting.
It is important to point out that anyone who disrupts a public meeting in a disorderly manner or intimidates employees will be removed and warned off City property. Likewise, anyone threatening or intimidating an officer or employee of the city [SIC] should also be removed.