Tallahassee police are investigating a possible trespassing incident after Leon County Commissioner David O’Keefe and City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow visited the site of the new Police Department as work crews removed 20 oak trees that community members had tried to save .
Heather Merritt, a TPD spokesperson, confirmed Wednesday afternoon that the incident is under investigation but she could not say who was being investigated.
“We are aware of an incident that occurred at the future headquarters of TPD and the investigation is ongoing,” Merritt said.
Matlow told the Tallahassee Democrat he never jumped a fence or trespassed on the property. O’Keefe, citing the investigation, declined to answer questions about the incident. He denied jumping over a fence with a no trespassing sign but wouldn’t say whether he climbed a different fence.
“I would never and did not jump over a construction site fence with a no trespassing sign on it,” O’Keefe said. “Out of respect for the investigative and legal process, it would be inappropriate to discuss it right now. I will discuss it in time, but not until we let the legal process play out.”