Tontitown mayor contacts police after being followed by alderman
Posted on Friday, October 10, 2008
Tontitown Mayor Joe Edgmon said he won't push for charges after filing a harassment complaint against Alderman Henry Piazza.
According to a Washington County Sheriff's Office report, Edgmon called police Sunday claiming Piazza, who is also Edgmon's uncle by law, chased Edgmon from his house to the city's industrial park over a miscommunication about documents the mayor needed to sign.
Piazza said the documents were certificates of appreciation for some volunteers who helped the city construct a gazebo at Henry Sbanotto Park. He said he needed the certificates to present at a celebration Sunday afternoon.
Piazza said the certificates were given to Edgmon Friday with instructions to contact Piazza to return the signed documents.
"I didn't see him all weekend," Piazza said. "I called his cell phone and house phone and left several messages."
Edgmon said Piazza only called his office cell phone, which he normally doesn't check on the weekends.
Piazza said he only lives two doors down from Edgmon and Sunday morning he decided to drive to Edgmon's house.
"I had to have those documents," he said.
Edgmon said Piazza pulled up to his residence honking his horn and hollering. Piazza said he honked once to get Edgmon's attention. Piazza said Edgmon jumped in his truck and took off, ignoring the alderman. Edgmon said he was late to pick up his daughter and didn't have time to deal with the situation.
After Edgmon left, Piazza said he decided to follow the mayor and figure out what the situation with the certificates was. They drove down Barrington Road to Arkansas 412 East and traveled toward Springdale. Piazza said he didn't go over the speed limit but did catch up to Edgmon. He said he honked his horn to get Edgmon's attention and pointed for him to pull over. Edgmon said Piazza was driving "recklessly "and that he was afraid there would be an accident so he pulled over.
Once off the highway Piazza said he got out of his car and asked Edgmon where the certificates were. Edgmon said Piazza "got belligerent"and "called him names."
Piazza said the only thing he said to Edgmon was that he was "stubborn "and "hard-headed".
"He's the one that got (out of the car ) madder than a hornet threatening to call the police," Piazza said.
In the police report, Edgmon said Piazza reprimanded Edgmon's wife, Brenda, who is Piazza's niece. Piazza said he only told his niece to stay out of the situation when she tried to intervene.
Edgmon said he told Piazza he had signed the certificates and was planning to bring them to the celebration. Piazza said all the mayor had to do was communicate that to him earlier in the weekend.
Edgmon said after the incident he decided to call the police and file a harassment complaint against Piazza.
"You just can't go out and badger people. That's my way of telling (Piazza ) that you can't do what you want and chase people down the road," Edgmon said to explain why he called the police.
Piazza said he didn't intend to harass anyone and that he only wanted to make sure everything was ready for the event that afternoon.
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