Sun 'N Fun Accused Of Trespassing
As in years past, a
criminal complaint was filed with the Winter Haven (FL) PD, on
Tuesday, after a representative of the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In trespassed
onto ANN office property, defacing the office and harassing those
inside -- despite specific orders to avoid such harassment, as has
been conducted for the past several years.
The trespasser was warned that police were being called, and
after defacing a door to the office, he fled before police could
arrive.
This latest action, after years of ongoing harassment at ANN's
home office and specific orders to avoid such actions, appears
related to Sun 'n Fun's ongoing attempts to silence the criticism
leveled against it by ANN Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell. Campbell
has, at times, been highly critical of safety and ethical issues
surrounding the event -- even though in 2004, Sun n' Fun allowed
Campbell to walk in during the Fly-In -- having been escorted
by several reporters and TV camerapersons. After a half hour of
deliberations, involving several SnF senior staffers via the Press
Check-In booth, Campbell was turned down for a Press Pass but was
told he could buy a ticket... which he did.
When questioned later about the apparent change in attitude, SnF
officials claimed that letting Campbell in had been "a
mistake."
ANN Legal Counsel Phillip Kuhn agreed that the latest actions
continued a lengthy pattern of harassment. Kuhn noted that Sun
'n Fun executives have demanded that Campbell not come to the Sun
'n Fun Fly-In (formerly known as the Sun 'n Fun EAA Fly-In before
the growing rift between these organizations resulted in changes
that included EAA's name being deleted). Should Campbell show up
(even at the FAA Building controlled by the Federal Government...
on Federal property, to speak with Federal officials), SnF has
threatened Campbell with arrest and being charged with trespassing
-- even though Federal Law enforcement officials confirm that he
has the right to conduct business within a Federal building like
any other citizen.
In the latest trespass incident, a Sun 'n Fun representative
came on to ANN property without notice or permission. After being
told to depart (and that the police were being called), he
proceeded to tape copies of a letter authorized by Sun 'n Fun over
an office door (like that shown below, from last year). Like last
year, the tape adhered tightly enough that when it was removed,
exterior paint was pulled off with it. In previous years, the
damage has been worse, even to the point of damaging company
vehicles.
After consultation with counsel, ANN has filed a criminal
complaint with the Winter Haven Police Department. ANN will demand
the full prosecution of all those involved.
Campbell noted that, "To our knowledge, Sun 'n Fun has no right
to attempt access to our office property and should it be necessary
to communicate with anyone at ANN, Sun 'n Fun officials are
very well aware of the identity and location of our company's legal
counsel, as they are in regular contact. The latest actions
appear to be a continued attempt on the part of this embattled
Fly-In to intimate and harass a journalist into ceasing criticism
of the safety and ethical issues that have imperiled this
declining event."
ANN is currently in litigation with SnF over issues related
to its continuing and legally questionable ban. A lawsuit has been
pursued for several years and additional actions are anticipated
before the matter is resolved.