Charges dropped in Scientologist / cameraman skirmish

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Post a comment | E-mail this story | Print

The state attorney's office has declined to pursue charges in a fight between a Scientologist and a church critic.

Shawn Lonsdale, a critic of the Church of Scientology, was filming outside the church's Clearwater headquarters in July.

A sandwich board next to Lonsdale read "cult watch."

Lonsdale's tape shows him interacting benignly with church members, but one scientologist, Michael Fitzgerald, says he got fed up with Lonsdale and his camera.

"Now you think you're gonna film me without my permission?" Fitzgerald asked Lonsdale.

Lonsdale had this sign next to him.

"Right, I am," Lonsdale replied.

"I don't think so," Fitzgerald said.

The two men then began a physical skirmish.

Clearwater police looked at the tape and arrested Fitzgerald on battery charges.

But the state attorney's office dropped the charges against Fitzgerald.

More Information
	Click here and here for previous stories on the incident.

The church says it was their surveillance video, which they gave Bay News 9 a copy of, that made the difference.

The tape shows Fitzgerald approaching Lonsdale and taking a swipe at his camera.

Lonsdale says he was the victim . . .

Lonsdale responds, and both men end up on the ground.

"It's funny how the prosecutors dropped the charges, but the police and everybody that viewed the footage as far as my end down here said that I was clearly the victim," Lonsdale said.

The church said dropping the charges was the right decision.

"Somebody who doesn't want his image on the screen is then attacked in this way and then has to defend himself further," said Scientologist spokeswoman Pat Harney.

. . . and is considering suing Fiztgerald.

"But in the end the right thing was done. The state attorney, who is the final authority for law enforcement in Pinellas County, decided that there was nothing there."

Lonsdale says he's hired an attorney and is considering suing Fitzgerald.

Lonsdale's amateur documentary can be seen on the Pinellas County public access channel.

Be in the Know with Bay News 9 Now!

Get news, weather, and traffic alerts delivered directly to your computer desktop, e-mail, or cell phone with Bay News 9 Now.

Subscribe for free!

Valentine's Day

Do you have a romantic Valentine's Day story? Or a funny one? What about a nightmarish one? We want to hear them! Send them to us and we may use them in a story on BayNews9.com.