A Georgia mayoral candidate who was arrested last year on assault charges after punching an apartment manager in the face has said he is innocent and claimed self-defense.
“As human beings, we all have a past,” Shekita Maxwell, who is running for Macon-Bibb County mayor, said at a press conference Friday. WGXA-TV reported.
“I am innocent. In this great United States of America, I want you to know that I am innocent until proven guilty,” the agency added. “Due process must be followed to ensure democracy is not eroded.”
See more from Maxwell.
What is your background?
WGXA reported. first story Last month, Maxwell was still charged with assault and obstruction of a police officer in connection with the Aug. 31, 2023, incident at the Bowman Station Apartments clubhouse in Macon.
The station reported that Maxwell said her Mercedes-Benz GLB was damaged because she was upset that a landscaping worker had sprayed her car with debris, and responding deputies said the car was covered in dust. It added that there was a pile of debris, but there was no damage.
WGXA reported that the apartment manager told police that she did not see any damage, but that she offered to wash Maxwell’s car, after which Maxwell became aggressive and started screaming. At that point, management instructed Maxwell to leave the building, the department said.
Investigators said that’s when Maxwell punched the victim in the face, causing him to bleed, WGXA reported. The victim was the apartment manager.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
The apartment manager separated the two, removed Maxwell from the building, and locked the door, police said.
Deputies added that surveillance video corroborated the victim’s testimony, and Assistant Bibb County Attorney Steve Knowles said, “The evidence is clear that the defendant corroborated the victim’s testimony.” . [Maxwell] were the first invaders,” WGXA noted.
Deputies said Maxwell resisted arrest, but was not arrested until one deputy pulled out a stun gun to “get his attention,” and that Maxwell was not taped and was not arrested, the department reported. He added that he had calmed down.
“I was born black”
WGXA reported. Episode 3 Maxwell was reportedly kicked out of the apartment after the incident.
Details from the station:
WGXA News has obtained court documents showing that the Bowman Station apartment complex where the incident occurred filed for eviction against Maxwell after the fight, demanding payment only for legal fees. The eviction was approved, but Maxwell appealed. Mr Maxwell said in his appeal that he had been “wrongfully evicted at unreasonable costs”. He added, “I follow the rules, I pay my rent on time, and I was born black. Being black should not be grounds for eviction.”
In her appeal, Maxwell asked for a counterjudgment of $10,500.
The eviction case resulted in a two-day trial, and a six-person jury found in favor of Bowman Station. Maxwell was required to pay more than $10,000 in unpaid rent, attorney fees and court costs.
what else?
WGXA reported. Episode 4 Maxwell was arrested before the incident last year, police said.
Maxwell sued the U.S. Postal Service in 2016, alleging discrimination, the agency said. But in 2017, when Mr. Maxwell was deposed for that incident, a court reporter asked Mr. Maxwell if he had ever been charged with a criminal offense, and Mr. Maxwell said that he had been charged with trespassing in 2016. WGXA said it had acknowledged that.
She said the charges stemmed from an incident involving her daughters and their dance team, the station said, and Maxwell told a court reporter that the judge told her to take an anger management course after the incident. He said he was ordered to do so, he added. She also said Maxwell was given probation to ensure she attended counseling sessions, according to WGXA.
Details from the station:
During her deposition, Maxwell was also asked about her military career. She served for three years until her discharge. Maxwell said her discharge was because she had a child with her commanding officer.
Her lawsuit against the USPS centered on allegations of racial and gender discrimination during her time as a postal worker.
During Maxwell’s deposition, a court reporter mentioned an accusation that while working at the USPS, he lunged at another employee during an argument. Ms Maxwell denied her accusations, saying: “…she lunged at me.”
“I was just standing there because she was bluffing,” Maxwell said, according to WGXA. “Because if she was going to hit me, she was going to hit me.”
Maxwell said she and the woman had been in frequent arguments for several weeks, and Maxwell said she was the only one who was fired, the station said.
The agency said a judge ruled in favor of the USPS in 2018, denying Maxwell the award of more than $100,000 he had sought.
“I’ll fight for you”
WGXA said on Friday that Maxwell “denies the accusation, based on self-defense,” that she punched her then-apartment manager in 2023.
Then she suggested some kind of Mia Culpa.
“First of all, I apologize for my actions, because no leader should act like that,” Maxwell said, according to the station. ”[The manager] It really caught me off guard. I want people to know that I will fight for you, but I also believe in this Constitution’s right to protect yourself. ”
WGXA noted that Maxwell has said he is running for mayor to empower communities and cut wasteful spending, adding, “At this time, I have not made any ‘specific’ commitments.” I hope so, because no matter what kind of damage it may cause, I really want you to vote.” , I came to repair it. ”
The department said Maxwell is the only challenger to incumbent Mayor Lester Miller. Elections are in May.
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