SHAVER: We don’t want a repeat of Memorial Day

The City Commission in St Augustine is taking a more hands-on position as it relates to the Conch House Marina Resort and how the owner has unsuccessfully tried to control the throngs of guests attending their crowded Reggae Sunday events.

Around 7:30 p.m. May 24th, the patrons became the victims of brutal beatings, strikes, and kicks, dished out by orange shirted security officers that behaved more like common street thugs who clearly contributed to the Memorial Day fracas.

Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline, who lives in the neighborhood, says that the last two weeks have been peaceful while Reggae Sunday has been closed.

Conch House owner, David Ponce, Jr., has been in communication with city officials and is voluntarily offering to take steps to correct some of the event’s recent impact on North Davis Shores. That has worked for the Ponce family in the past; but, this time, they are not going to be making the decision to reopen Reggae Sunday by themselves.

This time there was irrefutable evidence in the form of cell phone video uploaded to YouTube almost immediately as it was happening. Picked up by Historic City News as well as broadcast media in Jacksonville, the video went viral. Editor Michael Gold stated that at one point Sunday evening, our website was getting crushed with thousands of visits, just to get updates on the drama.

City Manager, John Regan, explained that the police department is not finished with the investigation of the out-of-control brawl that erupted between security and guests.

Historic City News now has confirmed that four of the security personnel, two white and two black, have been identified by police. Investigators took statements from more than a dozen witnesses and victims who wanted to see their attackers prosecuted.

Criminal complaints with the Office of State Attorney R. J. Larizza, have been filed against the following four security guards:

Ramel Jontue Dixon, BM 36-years-old
7241 Old Kings Road 1201 Jacksonville 32217

Adam James Frez, WM 31-years-old
147 Argonaut Road St Augustine 32086

Michael Lee McClendon, BM 28-years-old
1060 Snug Harbor Court Atlantic Beach 32233

Chris Rivera-Hernandez, WM 31-years-old
2576 Green Spring Drive Jacksonville 32240

Police are seeking the arrest of the four men to face misdemeanor charges of simple battery. It is up to the State Attorney to decide who will be charged, if anyone, and what charges should be brought.

The violence sent at least two guests to the hospital — one with injuries so severe they had to be transferred by air ambulance to the trauma center at UF Health Jacksonville. Parts of the video are extremely difficult to watch.

Consequently the city police and fire department has developed a lists of criteria, all based on health and safety concerns, with which the Conch House will have to comply before reopening.