St. Johns River State College security detain man refusing to leave campus
St Johns County FL October 22 2018
Authorities arrested a West Augustine man at a college symposium Thursday afternoon after he told the mayor to kill herself and then refused to leave, according to a St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office report.
Cyrus Joseph Bowie, 41, went to an event at St. Johns River State College featuring Mayor Nancy Shaver, according to the report. Witnesses said he told Shaver several times things such as “kill yourself” and “why don’t you kill yourself?”
Security guards asked him to leave several times and tried to escort him out, but he pulled and pushed away, the report said.
College security pinned Bowie to the ground, and a deputy arrived and took him to jail. He was booked on two charges of battery on an officer, firefighter or EMT and one charge of disorderly conduct, according to jail records.
Bowie also had a note that said “Why haven’t you killed yourself?” according to the report.
“The format of the note appears to be a speech the defendant intended to deliver during the event,” the report said.
Police previously arrested Bowie on charges of disorderly conduct and trespassing during St. Augustine’s 450th celebration in 2015. Bowie was among those protesting at a re-enactment of the landing of Pedro de Menendez in St. Augustine. Those charges were dropped, according to court records.
