The Political Whore

With a hat tip to Peter Schorsch at his blog, it appears the St. Petersburg Times local politics blog Bay Buzz had a post late Wednesday, about St. Petersburg mayoral candidate Paul Congemi and an incident at a KFC restaurant. The post was subsequently pulled from the blog (and restored after further reporting on Thursday). But thanks to Google Reader (and Google is forever) the original can be shared here.

Mayoral hopeful Paul Congemi gets banned from KFC
from Bay Buzz by tampabaycom

ST. PETERSBURG- Mayoral contender Paul Congemi has been banned from the KFC restaurant at 770 34th Street N.

Congemi was charged with trespassing last month after he cursed out several employees at the restaurant.

When police arrived, Congemi said, “Don’t touch me. I am running for mayor and once I get elected, you will be fired.”

Congemi said he won’t miss Colonel Sanders’ 11 herbs and spices.

“My mother makes a lot of chicken at home. I don’t need their chicken,” he said.

Read police report here.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Whether the allegations contained in the police report are true, it is strange to see a post removed and then re-posted.

Here is the entire narrative from the report, for anyone who was thinking about voting for Congemi:

This report is written by Ofc. Gainer under the supervision of field training Ofc. Guess.
Narrative
========
This report is reference to a Trouble With a Individual/ Trespass at 770 34 St N, KFC restaurant. Upon arrival we met with the stores Assistant Manager Melody M. Marcyes who stated that she wanted an individual trespassed from her store. She then proceeded to point out the individual
later known to us as Paul Congemi and explained what happened. Marcyes stated that she tried to get the attention of the suspect who had his back turned to the counter facing the juke box to inform him that his 8-pc chicken was ready. Congemi then turned to face her and stated
“THATS NOT MY FUCKING FOOD”! Marcyes replied “I apologize sir” and continued to look for the person who ordered the chicken.

Congemi then stated “WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT”. Startled, Marcyes stated “I don`t want anything” thats when Congemi then replied “THEN WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU LOOKING AT”.

Donte L. Wynn an employee of the restaurant came up to the counter laughing at something that previously happened, when Congemi stated “HEY BOY DONT LAUGH AT ME”! Congemi approached the counter and pointed at Wynn. Wynn states that he took Congemi`s statement offensive and very racist. Wynn understands that (BOY) used in such a way is a derrogatory term because he is African American. The cashier, Joseph J. Smarowsky, spoke to Congemi advising him, “Sir if you`re are not ordering food we`re going to have to ask you to leave”. The suspect looked at Smarowsky, then pointed to his friend and stated “IM NOT GOING ANYWHERE HE`S BUYING YOU FAT MOTHERFUCKER”!

Smarowsky stated that he asked his manager if he could throw the suspect out. Marcyes stated that she was calling the police. After hearing her statement, we approached Congemi and asked him to stand up and come with me outside because the assistant manager wanted Congemi out of the restaurant. He refused to leave his seat. I asked him again “Sir please stand up and follow me outside”. Congemi at this point was at passive resistance which is a subjects verbal and or physical refusal to comply with an officers lawful command. I then put the palm of my right hand on the bottom of his left elbow and guided him up then stated “Sir Get up and lets talk outside”. At this point Congemi began to stand. Once Congemi stood up and I asked him if I can pat him down for weapons for my safety, he replied “YES”. Once I patted him down I told him lets go outside and talk. Congemi looked at Ofc Guess and stated that “I DONT LIKE YOU, YOU GAVE ME A TICKET”.

Congemi took about five steps from the booth where he was sitting toward the door and stopped, tensed up, turned to me, and stated “WHAT IF I DONT WANT TO GO”! The subjects resistance level then rose to Active resistance which is a subjects use of physically evasive movements such as bracing, tensing pushing or pulling to prevent the officer from accomplishing his lawful objective. I told the suspect “Sir lets go outside and talk”. Congemi looked at the cashier at the counter and said “WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU LAUGHING AT”! Thats when I placed the palm of my right hand on the lower part of his left arm just above his elbow and guided him outside. Congemi stated “DONT TOUCH ME I AM RUNNING FOR MAYOR AND ONCE I GET ELECTED YOU WILL BE FIRED”! While escorting Congemi outside of the restaurant he stated repeatedly “YOU ARE MANHANDLING ME” I politely stated, “no sir I am not, just come talk to me outside”.

Once outside, the assistant manager of the restaurant stated that she wanted him trespassed from the premises. The subject identified himself as Paul J. Congemi and stated again that he is running for Mayor and once he is elected he will fire Ofc Guess and I. I proceeded to ask Congemi what happened inside of the restaurant? Congemi ignored the question. Congemi took his pen out of the left front pocket of his shirt and grasped it in his right hand. Congemi began to swing the pen very animated. In concern for Ofc. Guess and my safety, I then told Congemi “Sir please put away your pen”. Congemi stated “NO” then took his pen threw it down and said “IS THAT BETTER”. I then asked him for some form of identification. Congemi stated that his I.D is in his bag and that I can look inside his bag and grab his I.D card. After getting his I.D. I told Congemi he is not under arrest but I requested him to sit in the backseat of the car while I fill out a trespass. Congemi then stated “I AM NOT SITTING IN THE CAR I AM NOT A FUCKING CRIMINAL”! I told Congemi that I know he was not a criminal and reassured him that he is not under arrest. I advised him that he just needs to relax. Congemi sat in the back left side of the car, not in handcuffs with the backdoor open and his feet placed outside on the pavement. Congemi was sat in the back of the car because of his aggressive manner, and the fact that we were considering a potential charge based upon his behavior.

I asked Congemi if he understood what a trespass means. Congemi replied, “YES, AND I DONT EAT HERE ANYWAY”. While outside the restaurant with Congemi he repeatedly stated “I WANT YOUR BADGE NUMBER AND I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOUR SUPERVISOR”. I stated to Congemi “when I finish with the trespass I will be more than happy to call my supervisor”. Upon completion of the trespass I asked Congemi to sign the trespass and explained the trespass in detail. Congemi stated “WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IF I DONT SIGN THE TICKET”! I told Congemi, “if you do not sign, it is still valid and you will still be trespassed”. Congemi still refused to sign the trespass, so I signed refused to sign where his name goes and gave Congemi a copy and also the assistant manager of the restaurant a copy of the trespass.

After the copies of the trespassed was distributed, Congemi was asked to leave the property. Congemi was advised that he could be arrested for disorderly conduct, but was not being taken into custody because the store only wanted him trespassed. While Congemi was gathering his belongings he removed campaign literature from his bag and attempted to give it to me. The campaign literature was returned to Congemi because as public servants we are not allowed to take political sides during an Mayoral election. Congemi was advised to properly park along 8th Ave and standby while we requested a Sergeant to respond. After completion of the trespass Sgt. Jones and Sgt. Collins was contacted, and responded to speak to Congemi. The video from the store will be checked by Sgt. Jones and Sgt. Collins when available. I took no further action.
EOR END OF INCIDENT NARRATIVE

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