ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, Fla. – The St. Augustine Beach mayor has filed a temporary injunction against a local man for protection against stalking.
Mayor Rich O’Brien told News4Jax that he feels as though he and his family are continually being threatened.
The paperwork was filed this week against St. Augustine resident Tom Reynolds, ordering him to stay away from O'Brien's family and his places of business.
The temporary injunction prohibits Reynolds from coming within 500 feet of the mayor, his family, his home or workplace, which includes City Commission meetings.
Reynolds' attorney said he believes that the injunction is an effort to silence his client's opinions.
The petition says O'Brien feels threatened and harassed after various incidents involving Reynolds.
O’Brien said police had to remove Reynolds from a City Commission meeting because he was yelling and disruptive. The mayor said in the injunction that Reynolds is “unstable, unpredictable, filled with rage and anger and cannot control his temper. ... I fear for my safety.”
The petition says Reynolds sent emails described as profane to O’Brien earlier this month and that one of the emails targeted O’Brien’s wife. O'Brien wrote that the email was “very, very disparaging, with a lot of name calling.”
The document also says Reynolds went to one of the mayor’s properties and insulted and harassed one of his employees.
Attorney Tom Cushman, who is representing Reynolds, said the mayor is violating Reynolds’ First Amendment rights.
“Mr. Reynolds has apparently said things the mayor doesn’t like and, of course, my question is, so what? He’s got a right to free speech and exercises it,” Cushman said.
Cushman said Reynolds is involved with the city and attends many commission meetings. He said he believes that the injunction is a ploy to silence him.
“He feels like the mayor is doing his best to violate his right to free speech,” Cushman said.
O'Brien declined to comment because of the pending litigation.
The temporary order is in effect at least until next week, when a judge will consider a final judgment of injunction at a scheduled hearing.