Hall of Fame football player Warren Sapp allegedly caused a disruption at Tampa City Hall, prompting council members to pause a meeting, police said.
A city employee was giving a presentation about two hours into an afternoon meeting Sept. 17 when Chairperson Alan Clendenin interrupted and said, “We’ve got something going on out here, I can’t pay attention.” He then exited the chambers and went to investigate what the commotion was.
When Clendenin returned, he said proceedings were going to pause “for just one moment.” He asked someone to lock the doors leading to the chambers.
The City Council meeting proceeded, but the disruption in the adjoining room could still be heard. Clendenin used his gavel to pause the meeting again.
“I am ruling the folks
that are in our offices that are being disruptive to City Council procedures out of order,” Clendenin said. “I have asked them to leave the premises, and they have refused to leave the premises.”
A recess was called and attendees were asked to stay seated as the room where the disruption was taken place was cleared. The meeting resumed a few minutes later and after about 20 minutes, people were allowed to leave the room.
Were police involved when Warren Sapp allegedly disrupted a Florida City Council meeting?
Police responded to the scene, and asked Sapp to leave.
“Council found him to be out of order by creating a disturbance and requested him to be trespassed for the day. Officers responded and asked Sapp to leave,” According to a statement from Tampa Police.
It did not state if Sapp did comply.
What did Warren Sapp say about allegedly disrupting a Florida City Council meeting?
Sapp told Tampa Bay Times he was at City Hall to pick up “some paperwork,” when Clendenin came in the meeting room and told Sapp “get out.”
“(Clendenin) said, ‘I’m not leaving until he leaves.’ And I said, ‘You’re going to be here a long time because this is a public place and I haven’t committed no crime,’” said Sapp, who played 13 years in the NFL, primarily with Tampa Bay Bucs.
Michelle Spitzer is a journalist for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. As the network’s Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida’s breaking news. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: EX-NFL star Warren Sapp disrupts Florida city council meeting, cops say
