See The Tweets: Ft. Laud. Political Dirty Trick Case Dropped

 

 

 

BY BUDDY NEVINS 

 

The arrest of an 18-year-old campaign worker for Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis just days before the January election stunk like a political dirty trick from the start.

Now Elijah D. Manley has been cleared of a pre-election arrest for running from the police after being questioned about vandalism of a Trantalis rival’s campaign signs.  Prosecutors dropped charges against Manley for resisting arrest without violence. 

 

Elijah D. Manley

 

 

Manley was arrested four days before Fort Lauderdale’ January 16 primary.

His arrest was quickly peddled to the media by supporters of former Police Chief Bruce Robert, a city commissioner and Trantalis’ leading opponent. Roberts had a lot of police officers backing his campaign. 

Here are tweets by Sun-Sentinel reporter Brittany Wallman about Manley indicating that Robert’s campaign manager Judy Stern was hawking the story. Wallman also reports two days after Manley’s January 12 arrest that the incident was used in robo calls against Trantalis:

 

 

 

Despite the dirty campaigning, Trantalis easily beat Roberts and a third candidate.

The details of Manley’s arrest read like a political dirty trick designed to smear Trantalis from the beginning.  

Here is what the police said at the time:

Manley was stopped because he fit the description of a man seen by a resident vandalizing campaign signs of a Trantalis rival.

When Manley was stopped, an officer claimed he ran.

The next day, another police officer pulled Manley over in a traffic stop and arrested him for resisting arrest without violence. 

Resisting arrest without violence is a charge often used by authorities to justify harassment and phony searches, according to numerous defense attorneys.

 

 

 Court record showing the State Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute the case.



7 Responses to “See The Tweets: Ft. Laud. Political Dirty Trick Case Dropped”

  1. City activist Robert Walsh says:

    Ok so the SAO dropped the charges like i stated previous they would do.Now those that implied Bruce Roberts campaign manager Judy Stern was behind it, well without merit.She did not call 911.I sand bag no one.Million dollar question is and was from the start – why did you run in the first place??.Im glad this is behind him.My advice coming from someone that has been to court( local, Federal, civil- u name it) more times than i have hair on my head, put this incident behind you and lesson learned when the police( congrats Chief Marvel ( oh he will call u sucker- boy- paraphrase huh MD) question or stop you address their concerns and DON.T RUN…

  2. Accountability says:

    Bruce Roberts and FOP Mike Tucker both found a person guilty without the person even being charged for tampering. Makes you wonder how often they did this when no one was watching…

    Roberts Twitter account: “It’s such a shame that we have come down to one of my opponents’ “Volunteers” tampering with my campaign signs.”
    FOP Mike Tucker re-tweeted this.

    Disgraceful.

  3. A life damaged and for what? says:

    ….Look back at the Tweets by Brittany Wallman in mid January, Stern was the only person who made unfounded allegations of criminal activity against hi and then he got arrested. Stern’s unfounded allegations at a minimum started the fire that ended up with this kid being arrested.

    Go run his name on the internet, his mug shot is all over and will be forever For what? votes? an election? This young man will be marred by this bs charge forever. Even if the file gets sealed, unless someone pays big bucks, you cant get a mug shot off those web pages.

    Speak loud and proud Elijah and let the people in your community who vote and not led around by Stern know her by her true name, Judy “the Snitch” Stern.

  4. City activist Robert Walsh says:

    #3 You are right with your reference to his booking file photo will be there forever, and is easily uptainable.For instance i can.t tell you how many times my employers received every single booking file that was ever taken of me( i could care less).So yes this could come back to haunt him( photo).One postive note right back at you.Then you put your own records request and simply request who filed the PIO request in the first place.Then you have documentation who petitioned to receive it etc.Then at least you will know who received such stated photos.Again, though probably yes Stern most definitely voiced her concern, but after the fact since she was Roberts failed campaign manager.To call her a snitch over this incident is streching it quite a bit..

  5. Broward Black Leaders Nowhere to be Found says:

    Is the money Judy contributes to your campaigns, pays to your family or friends for “campaign work” or other support worth the ruining a man not even 20 years of age? Where is the outcry against Judy Stern from he pal Howard Finkelstien? Isn’t this what you always rail against Howard? Too afraid of Judy to call it out? You are not alone, it is doubtful we will hear from the following “leaders” in the black community. They will look away at the unfounded allegations that just “coincidentally” led to Mr. Manley being arrested?
    What say the following Broward Black Leaders? Is the life long black mark on Mr. Manley a fair and just price he has to pay for being against Judy Stern in an election?

    What say you…

    Chris Smith
    Perry Thurston
    Bobby Dubose
    Robert McKenzie
    Dale Holness
    Ros Osgood
    Marsha Ellison
    Gordon Weekes
    The Dallas family
    Corey Shearer
    Joe Gibbons
    Joe Eggelletion
    Greg Durden
    Anthony Brunson
    Judge Florence Barner
    Marsha Ellison
    Ruth Lynch
    Jasmine Shirley
    Barbra Sharief

  6. The uproar is... says:

    Listen to all those black leaders listed above calling out Stern for leading the charge that most likely led to this young man being elected and have his mug shot out there for the rest of his life.

    Sad.

  7. Racism As Usual says:

    #5 Thank you for exposing these individuals for the phonies that they are.

    Where were these leaders during the protest when Fort Lauderdale City Manager Lee Feldman reinstated Fort Lauderdale Police Officer Jeffery Feldewert for his racist ranting facebook postings. Apparently City Manager Lee Feldman condones this behavior by Fort Lauderdale Police Department.

    http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-lauderdale-fired-cop-rehired-20150901-story.html

    Chris Smith
    Perry Thurston
    Bobby Dubose
    Robert McKenzie
    Dale Holness
    Ros Osgood
    Marsha Ellison
    Gordon Weekes
    The Dallas family
    Corey Shearer
    Joe Gibbons
    Joe Eggelletion
    Greg Durden
    Anthony Brunson
    Judge Florence Barner
    Ruth Lynch
    Jasmine Shirley
    Barbra Sharief