Tempers again flared up at Tallahassee City Hall at Wednesday’s commission meeting.
The verbal sparring this time was between Mayor John Dailey and City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow. The issue was centered on the Calvin Riley case that got national attention earlier this month.
Riley was found guilty of DUI. He had admitted on video to drinking that night and declined to take a field sobriety test or a breathalyzer. Law enforcement alleged Riley was swerving on the road and claimed to find a cup containing alcohol when they stopped him.
But body camera footage that was edited and released by the progressive media site OurTallahassee showed Tallahassee Police Department officer Kiersten Oliver unsealing a bottle of alcohol found in the car, dumping it out, and putting the bottle back into the car. This action wasn’t noted in the police report. The social media post received millions of views.
City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow has remained critical of the case before and after the ruling. He requested and was denied a meeting with City Manager Reese Goad about the incident. He also has said the video hints that evidence was planted.
At the end of Wednesday’s meeting, Dailey took issue with Matlow’s public statements about the issue.
“I’m getting tired of members of this board criticize police action after it goes before a jury of our peers. Commissioner Matlow, I think it is unacceptable,” he said.
Matlow took exception to the remarks, interjecting that Dailey was out of order for personally attacking him while leading the meeting as mayor. The two then got into a shouting match for over a minute before Dailey abruptly adjourned the meeting.
Here is the full audio of their verbal fight:
The incident is the latest in the years-long feud between the elected officials. Dailey is a member of the three-commissioner block that currently controls city hall, while Matlow is a member of the two-commissioner progressive block looking to take control of this election cycle. The feud has involved personal attacks in and out of city hall, as well as both backing candidates against each other’s political allies.