Page 4 March 16, 2011
The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
Officers Threatened - Continued from page 1
Remembering the past
“The Newscaster,” who was present at Peters’ home during the arrest, Peters was actually
arrested around 9:00 a.m. on Thursday morning, March 10, because Peters was not home for
a portion of the previous night when police obviously intended to place Peters under arrest.
She said Inglis Police Chief Steve Dixon, Officer Tim Swiggett and Levy County Sheriff’s
Office Deputy Allen Breeding were present during Peters’ arrest, and Chief Dixon said to
her as she photographed Peters’ arrest, “This is not about you, and it is not about the article
in the paper.”
According to the report of the incident by Lt. Ballard, “The tone of the letter was
very clear that our careers in law enforcement would be over, and he allegedly knew things
that would end The Chief’s career, which he would bring out publicly if Chief Dixon did not
do as he demanded. Mr. Peters has started to make his threat good by publishing an article
in the Newscaster, in an attempt to accuse Chief Dixon of an illegal act. See attached article
dated 3/9/11. His threats, by statute: corruption by threat against public servant 838.021 1 A.
I also met with State Attorney Glenn Bryan on this case who, after reviewing the letter and
all information, stated to me there was probable cause for an arrest of the violation, which is
a third degree felony. See the attached letter from Peters.”
After being incarcerated on the three felony charges, Peters’ First Appearance Or-
der before Levy County Judge James Browning states that Peters was released on his own
recognizance on each of the three charges. Judge Browning gave the State’s Attorney’s Of-
fice 72 hours to show cause as to why the case should move forward, and/or come up with
additional evidence against Peters.
As Ofc. Goodman works a different shift at the Inglis Police Department than Lt.
Ballard, he wrote a letter to Lt. Ballard at 12:47 a.m., Friday, Feb. 25, after he performed
The “Storm of the Century” March 13, 1993 brought a tidal surge into the Town of Yan-
the traffic stop on Peters and issued the citation and three warnings, Ofc. Goodman wrote,
keetown in the wee morning hours with no warning. Over 48 inches of water rose on Magnolia
“Just wanted to let you know that I stopped Michael Peters around 0000 hours this morn-
Ave in 17 minutes leaving people struggling to get up or out. The “once in a hundred years”
ing for pulling a trailer without lights. From the start of the (traffic) stop, he was extremely
storm flooded the west coast of Florida but also scattered problems across the south and up
disrespectful toward me, and I tried to remain as professional as I could...He was not very
and off the east coast of the nation. In the early morning hours of March 13 Penny and Ray
happy with me for giving him three warnings and one citation and became very argumenta-
Phares at 14 Hickory Ave Yankeetown put a sign in their front window pleading for help that
tive...” Goodman wrote Ballard that Peters told him, “I was in law enforcement way before
said “WE ARE STILL HERE.” The U S Coast Guard Station Yankeetown crew came down Hickory
you were even born, son...” Ofc. Goodman informed Lt. Ballard of his response to Peters,
in a large boat and helped the Phares onto the USCG boat where they were transported to Jim
“I stated to him that I was not his son, and that he needed to address me as officer...” Ofc.
Townsend’s tug. The tug took those rescued to 56th street to the post office where school
Goodman wrote Ballard that Peters insisted he contact Chief Dixon or Lt. Ballard and fol-
buses were loading people from boats that came up the river or up Hwy 40 dropping off the
low him (Peters) the short distance to his home (where his trailer and other documents
flood victims and transported them to Inglis. The flooding was complicated by the freezing
were), but he told Peters that he was well aware of the location of Peters’ residence, and he
temperatures and the power being out. Small incident compared to the Japan Tsunami but it
was not Chief Dixon, but Officer Goodman, and it was his “call” and “officer discretion”
proves there is a fury in Mother Nature that man can’t control. From Sally Price Archives
whether or not to give him a citation. “I told him the law states that you must have current
Have you thanked a veteran today?
documents in the vehicle at all times, not at your house.” Officer Goodman warned Lt. Bal-
lard that Peters “will probably be in to complain about me, and I wanted you to have my side
of the story and tell you why I had stopped him...I forwarded this to The Chief, as well.”
Coastal
Hair Port
Peters stated in his four-page typed letter to Chief Dixon: “I could have caused
Continued on page 8 - Officers Threatened
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