Marlowe Jones stands outside of the West Pasco Judicial Center after day one of his court proceedings, where he was found innocent. Credit: Justin Garcia

After the City of New Port Richey failed twice to dismiss it, the lawsuit by activist Marlowe Jones is headed to trial on Nov. 4, 2024. The lawsuit alleges civil rights violations after NPR police unlawfully arrested and charged Jones with felony battery on a law enforcement officer in 2020.

“We’re happy this case is moving forward,” Jones, who works as lead organizer for Faith in Florida, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay recently on the phone. “This thing is going full speed ahead.”

The state’s case relied on false testimony from a now-former cop, and a jury trial acquitted Jones on May 5, 2022. Jones and his attorney, Kevin K. Ross-Andino, filed a civil rights lawsuit against NPR on March 31. The city’s legal team has repeatedly tried and failed to have the Jones lawsuit dismissed.

“We are still in the preliminary stages of the case,” Ross-Andino wrote in an email to CL. “We will also be working with some experts to quantify the emotional harm that Marlowe and his family suffered.”

The Jones complaint alleges unlawful search and seizure, retaliation, failure to train, false arrest/false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, abuse of process, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Jones is asking for $2 million in damages.

“We’ve been keeping the faith and letting the justice system do its thing,” Jones told CL. “The judge setting a date for trial is big.”

The Jones complaint isn’t the only lawsuit alleging major civil rights violations by NPR. In August, former NPR resident Michelle Wojciechowski and attorney Ross-Andino filed a federal lawsuit claiming harassment. Wojciechowski’s lawsuit is filed against the City of NPR, City Attorney Timothy Driscoll, and City Code Enforcement Officer Charles Morgan. She’s asking for $1 million in damages.

Creative Loafing Tampa Bay reported earlier this year how NPR code enforcement had turned her and others’ lives upside down by using NPR police to harass residents for code violations. In a body camera video obtained by CL, NPR police made a Holocaust joke in the home of a Jewish resident they were searching for code violations. Eventually, the harassment by NPR law enforcement and code enforcement was so intense that it drove Wojciechowski from the city.

For Jones, the fight for justice goes well beyond his lawsuit. His family has called New Port Richey home for almost a century.

More recently, he’s gone toe-to-toe at NPR city hall with newly-elected Mayor Alfred “Chopper” Davis. The new mayor reportedly won the race by only 13 votes. Davis’ predecessor, Rob Marlowe, said he wished people seeking public records would just “go away.”

Davis previously served on the city council for nine years before being term-limited in 2022. He won that seat by a slight margin of nine votes in 2013.

On Sept. 18, Davis had NPR police officers escort Jones out of a budget meeting for “interrupting.” Jones told CL that one of the officers escorting him out was also there the night he was unlawfully arrested in 2020.

“They’re getting bolder about it all,” Jones said.

Last week, during a special budget workshop, Davis argued with Jones at the dias again. This time, Davis told Jones to keep his comments to the business item. Jones asked, as were others in the public, about unlisted miscellaneous spending by City Manager Debbie Manns.

“How many law firms is the city manager paying for without coming to the public?” Jones asked.

Before the case, CL obtained text messages between Manns and former City Councilman Jeff Starkey during Jones’s 2022 acquittal.

“They didn’t realize he would be portrayed as a saint,” Manns texted.

“He’s no saint,” Starkey responded.

“No kidding,” Manns added.

If he hadn’t been acquitted, Jones would’ve gotten a felony conviction and upwards of five years in prison. After years of litigation, all stemming from false charges, Jones hopes the end is in sight.

“It’s going to conclude in 2024,” Jones told CL. “This is not what the city of New Port Richey wanted.”

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