The long simmering animosity between two city council members turned ugly earlier this month as they traded obscenities outside of council chambers.
Purtee referred to him as a "ghetto b**ch" after she accused him of being a child predator. Purtee is a gay white man while Gibson- Carter is a black woman.
An argument was recorded on a body camera worn by a police officer who witnessed it. The footage from the body camera was obtained.
Readers are warned that the video contains offensive language.
The council member called another council member racist.
In the past, the city council spars as a chair is removed for calling a peer racist.
More on Gibson-Carter, she isn't inclined to participate in the search.
Purtee used a slur in a phone interview. The complaint letter she sent to Georgia Southern University President Kyle Marrero listed her grievances with Purtee.
Two ethics complaints were filed by Purtee against Gibson- Carter. He tells her to stop talking during tense council meetings.
It is unfortunate that I continue to have to respond to issues related to attacks against my person. The most pressing issues facing our community include rising crime, poverty, forced displacement, homelessness and property taxes. The attacks on me are ignored by the mayor and the media.
Outside of the council chambers, a woman was talking to a person. Purtee said he was called a "boy" by Gibson- Carter after he tried to add to the conversation.
She was upset with him and staff so I asked him to not say anything to her.
Purtee called Gibson- Carter a "ghetto b**ch".
One of Purtee's District 5 residents is one of the people talking to Gibson- Carter. Purtee said he was familiar with the property and a planned project for the site and wanted to give information.
Purtee said he was told to go somewhere else. She said that he was a child predator and a pedophile.
Purtee said that she called him "boy" twice when he tried to talk to her. I was angry when she called me a child predator and a pedophile.
Purtee is a police officer and is trained in de-escalating.
The term 'ghetto' makes the encounter racist. In her email, she said that she was not letting this go. Kurtis Purtee is a lecturer at a university. He has a gun and a Badge. A person with a dislike of women and African-Americans can use this power.
Purtee said he had to center himself for a moment because he thought "Here we go."
The police officer's body camera captured the aftermath of the incident.
The body camera is not turned on while the camera is facing Purtee. Purtee said that she treats employees like shit. I will be happy when she leaves.
Purtee was told "let's go live" by Gibson- Carter. On her Facebook page, Gibson- Carter often hosts live broadcasts. Purtee then walks away and says that he thought that.
The officer was asked if the interaction was recorded on the body camera.
Did you take that picture? He was calling me a ghetto. Is that what you got? The person outside the camera's field of view was told by the man that he was a ghetto b**ch.
The recording also shows the assistant city manager talking to a woman who was concerned about the issues.
An ethics complaint was made against a woman by a member of the city council.
There is an ethics board.
The council accepted the apology from the woman who said she did not make it.
The officer was told to record the body camera video. I apologize for that. It was just a disappointment. I don't like that things have to move to what they are. I definitely do.
You know what he does every day. The city hall police officer is unfortunate that he has this job.
turbulence marked the current council's term The City Council reprimanded Gibson- Carter in December of 2021.
Purtee brought forward an agenda item that called for the officers of the city council to be reconsidered in the wake of the incident between Palumbo and Carter. During the first council meeting of 2020, she was chosen to hold the chair of council.
The council chairwoman title was taken away from her by Purtee's motion.
Four members of the council, including Purtee, filed an ethics complaint against the city manager in August 2020.
In his complaint, Purtee stated a number of ethical issues including that Gibson- Carter has used "vulgar profanity" toward council members in closed sessions, had physically threatened another council member, made public allegations of unethical practices at city hall without evidence, and spoke to the public.
The ethics board found that Gibson- Carter had violated the ethics code.
Will is the City Council and County Commission reporter for the morning news. He can be reached via email at wpeebles@savannahnow.com or on the social media sites.
Drew Favakeh is a reporter. He can be reached at afavakeh@savannahnow.
The article was originally published on the morning news.
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