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newspress.com

Fired official files whistleblower complaint

By Stephen D. Price
Florida Capital Bureau
November 17, 2006

TALLAHASSEE — A former acting inspector general for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice said he was fired from his job in August because he wouldn't go along with "misrepresentation," in the death of Martin Lee Anderson and has filed a whistleblower complaint with the state Commission on Human Relations.

"I believe the reason I was terminated was because I wouldn't go along with misrepresentation related to Mr. Anderson's death," said Steve Meredith, in a press conference Friday afternoon.

Meredith initially filed the Commission on Human Relations complaint that he was fired because of racial bias. Earlier this week, Meredith said he learned he was fired because of his position on Anderson's death and amended the complaint to include the whistleblower grievance.

Meredith's attorney, Marie Mattox, said a civil suit cannot be filed for 120 days after the commission complaint was filed and investigation is done.

Anderson died Jan. 6, a day after he was hit, kicked and kneed by guards at the Bay County boot camp in a videotaped incident. No arrests have been made, and a criminal investigation into Anderson's death is ongoing.

Meredith issued a report in March to DJJ secretary Anthony Schembri that guards were allowed to use chemical agents to restrain juvenile detainees if they were being attacked. But, Meredith added, when he saw videotape of guards putting ammonia tablets in Anderson's nose Jan. 5, that the 14-year-old was not a threat to deputies.

A second autopsy on Anderson, requested by State Attorney Mark Ober, a special investigator in the case, said the teen died from suffocation by guards who forced ammonia tablets into his nose while covering his mouth.

Anderson's parents have filed a civil suit against the Bay County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice seeking $40 million.

 

 

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