SURFSIDE, FLA. (WSVN) - Community activists gathered in Surfside to call for an independent investigation into a teen’s arrest and the vice mayor’s actions.
Holding ‘Justice for Joshua’ signs, activists gathered Tuesday evening in front of Surfside Town Hall to make their voices heard ahead of an evening commissioner’s meeting.
The protest comes days after an alleged push landed 18-year-old Joshua Epstein in jail as officials charged him with a felony charge of assaulting an elected official.
Epstein was arrested after footage, given to 7News, shows Surfside Vice Mayor Jeff Rose yelling at Epstein, claiming the teen pushed him.
What led up to the exchange captured on video wasn’t recorded on video and isn’t clear.
Epstein’s mother, Eliana Salzhauer, is herself a former Surfside commissioner and critic of town leaders. She was at the protest gathering on Tuesday.
“I want my son’s name cleared and I want a full investigation because the corruption that allowed this to happen in town hall must be eliminated or no resident is safe,” said Salzhauer.
The charge stems from a Surfside squabble that allegedly took place after a candidate forum held at Surfside Town Hall.
“Keep pushing me, Josh, keep pushing me. Back up,” Vice Mayor Jeff Rose is heard saying in the video. “You already pushed me once, and you can do it again and see what happens. You already pushed me once, and it’s on camera.”
Epstein and his mother have both been critical of the Surfside government and claim the push allegation and the subsequent arrest are purely political.
On Tuesday night, commissioners held their first commissioner’s meeting since the incident occurred.
As the meeting began, one of the commissioners, Marianne Meishcheid, tried to add a resolution to the agenda, calling for a vote that would censure the vice mayor for alleged abuse of power.
“His actions have fractured the community,” said Meischeid.
But when the vote began on her resolution, it didn’t go far.
“No,” said one member in a voting call.
“No,” said another member in a voting call.
Meishcheid’s resolution failed as she didn’t have the votes.
But the public didn’t need a vote. During the public comment period, which lasted two hours, various community residents appeared at the podium with questions and concerns about the alleged push.
“You have no respect for us residents,” said one man.
“And quite frankly, I’m really tired of this,” said another man.
Residents told commissioners they saw what unfolded and there was never a push. Others said that even if the pushing did occur, the way it was handled was very wrong.
“Shame on you,” said one resident.
“What I want to call for is going to be an outside investigation,” said one man.
“You have brought shame on this entire town in a way that 88 years of drama has never happened,” said one resident.
7News reached out to the vice mayor for a request for comment and have not heard back.
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