Video evidence that will be presented in the harassment case against Rome Mayor Jeffrey Lanigan has been released, including interviews conducted by law enforcement, although the case has ended.
Lanigan pleaded guilty Dec. 12 to second-degree harassment stemming from an incident that occurred the afternoon of June 3 between Lanigan and Brown in the parking lot of Teugega Country Club in Rome.
Body camera footage shows Rome Mayor Jeffrey Lanigan talking to Oneida County officials after an altercation with former Mayor James Brown.
According to the sole charge, Lanigan is accused of “pushing the victim toward the rear passenger trunk area of a black Nissan vehicle and then restraining the victim’s arms before pushing the victim into the front passenger seat of said vehicle.”
Lanigan confirmed the verbal exchange between the two in a June 4 statement but said it had not turned physical. The statement said Brown “…was waving his arms and became verbally aggressive.”
Lanigan interview video
In the interview video, Lanigan can be seen talking to a deputy from the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.
“When he saw it was me, he put his hands up and was already drunk and belligerent,” Lanigan told an officer. “I put his hands down and walked him to the car and said ‘get in the car and I’m going to say goodbye to you and that’s it, I’m done.'”
Lanigan said the two “…screamed at each other through the window.” [car’s] Windows,” that’s the extent of the quarrel.
When one of the deputies asked him about his relationship with Brown, Lanigan said the former mayor had been a friend for 13 years and was the one who got him into politics. Lanigan claimed that Brown was doing fine until Brown “bad mouthed him” on the podcast.
arrest: Syracuse man arrested in connection with Sullivan crash that left one dead
Court proceedings: CO in Messiah Nantwi trial asks for separate trial
Safety: Law enforcement and mall officials talk safety in Sangertown
“I called him when this happened and he wouldn’t answer my call,” Lanigan said. “We didn’t speak again all winter. And then [June 2]he was on Talk of the Town, and someone sent me a radio interview. “
One deputy in body-worn camera footage asks Lanigan if “…that’s what the text message was to him? Do you want to talk to him?”
Lanigan agreed and said he did not threaten Brown.
Argument video
In the video, Brown can be seen talking to someone else and getting into a car, only getting out when another person approaches and hugs him. He can be seen talking to the man across the parking lot, and Lanigan can then be seen walking up behind Brown and putting his hand on his shoulder.
The two can be seen talking, but with every step Lanigan takes, Brown takes a step back until he is sitting in the back of the car.
Brown raised one arm in an attempt to push away and raised the other arm above his head, but Lanigan grabbed the second arm and led Brown back into the vehicle and into the passenger seat.
From that point on, the two started talking and gesturing to each other. At one point, as Lanigan started to walk away, Brown said something that caused Lanigan to turn around.
The two eventually separated and the car carrying Brown drove away.
This article originally appeared in the Observer Newsletter: Video released after Rome Mayor Lanigan pleads guilty