President of NAACP Macon chapter files restraining order against county commissioner
The president of Macon’s NAACP chapter has filed a restraining order against a commissioner, alleging she was being stalked and harassed, court records show.
Gwenette Westbrooks filed a restraining order against District 9 Commissioner Brendalyn Bailey earlier this month. In it, Westbrooks alleged she was being stalked and threatened by the commissioner earlier in the year, citing an incident in January when Bailey allegedly had called deputies from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office to remove the NAACP Macon chapter president from city hall.
Bailey had allegedly wanted to remove Westbrooks because “I wouldn’t admit I knew her in 2012,” Westbrooks said in her petition for a restraining order. That same day, Bailey had texted Desmond Brown, a board member for the Macon Water Authority, “indicating bodily harm” to Westbrooks and sharing intentions to keep pursuing Westbrooks until she admitted she knew her and worked with her, Westbrooks said.
After a deputy arrived, Elaine Lucas, another MWA board member, explained to him that Westbrooks couldn’t be removed from city hall if she hadn’t done anything wrong. The deputy, Wesley Hilliard, did not ask Westbrooks to leave until Lucas left, Westbrooks said in her petition.
Bailey denied that she had stalked or harassed and requested to modify the protective order for it to not apply in city hall, where they both frequent. The judge agreed, saying that the restraining order would impede her duties as commissioner and would “seriously affect public interest,” court records show.
She also argued that filing the petition against her violates her right to speak freely, court records show.
What’s next?
Westbrooks would have to prove to a judge that Bailey had stalked and harassed her for the judge to approve the restraining order.
Westbrooks has indicated that Brown, Lucas and Hilliard will be among those who testify. The case will be heard in Bibb County court Wednesday.
