Waveland mayor releases statement on exchange between officer and man in front of City Hall

Waveland Mayor Jay Trapani has released a statement about the exchange between a police officer talking to a man demonstrating in front of City Hall.

A YouTube video shows Sgt. Joseph Joffrion talking to the man in the video, identified as Marcus Jeffery.

Here’s what the mayor’s statement said:

“On Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at approximately 9:16 a.m., a gentleman wearing dark clothing and a cap, and carrying a sign, entered Waveland City Hall by the main entrance. This individual entered the Utilities Department, flashed the sign at a city employee sitting at her desk behind a glass partition, and asked if there was a bathroom he could use.”

“The City employee gave him directions to the bathroom. Soon after, this individual left City Hall but stood approximately two feet outside and in front of the main entranceway to City Hall. Over the next few minutes, this individual walked to the window next to the main door and peered into the Utilities Department. He continued this activity for the next few minutes. The City employee that had given directions to the bathroom felt very scared and uneasy about this individual continuing to stare in through the window while business transactions were taking place. The three female city employees in the Utilities Department continued to be uneasy about this individual’s presence as he stood just outside the main door and occasionally stared in through the window while they were working.”

“After concerns from several employees and female citizens of Waveland over the individual’s behavior were reported to me by the head of the Utilities Department, I contacted the Waveland Police Department and asked for a patrolman to pass by City Hall to handle the situation and to address the individual who was believed to be making the city employees and city citizens uneasy while they were conducting City business.”

“When the patrolmen arrived, this individual had moved down to the sidewalk outside the main doors of City Hall The entire conversation between the patrolmen and this individual took approximately four minutes. The individual was not arrested. Subsequent to the incident we have received some requests for public records, all of which are in the process of being responded to by the City. The matter is still in the process of being further reviewed.”