Atlantic Beach council candidate arrested

An Atlantic Beach Town Council candidate and her husband were arrested Wednesday night and charged with interference or hindering officers serving a warrant or rescuing prisoners.

The town's police chief, Eric Lewis, said the charges are related to the two disobeying a lawful order to stay out of the church where Town Council candidate Windy Price is pastor.

Bail was set at $500 each for Windy Price, 39, and Darnell Price, 46, during a Thursday morning hearing at J. Reuben Long Detention Center, according to court records.

The Prices were arrested at 10:02 p.m. on 30th Avenue in Atlantic Beach and spent the night in jail, according to court records.

The Prices could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Lewis said his officers arrested them after a condemnation sign placed on the church and police tape placed around it was moved earlier on Wednesday. The Prices and others were inside the church Wednesday evening when the arrests occurred.

The town's manager, William Booker, said the church building was declared condemned after code officials found unsafe conditions, including loose wires and uncovered outlets, during a visit last week.

He said attempts were made to contact the Prices about the conditions and the town offered them use of its community center for church services until the building problems could be corrected. He also said building officials who represent the town have been trying since May to arrange an inspection of the church, but have not been successful.

Booker said the Prices have not accepted offers to use the community center.

Windy Price and former Atlantic Beach Town Manager Carolyn Cole have been involved in a political and legal battle for two seats on the town's council since November of last year.

Price and Cole ran as write-in candidates and won enough votes to take the seats, but previous council members and other candidates protested the two candidates' residencies. They were both using suspended Mayor Retha Pierce's address as their residence to run for the council.

The town's election commission ruled against their candidacy and a state court "affirmed" that decision in June. Lawyers defending Price and Cole in the matter have asked for a clarification on the decision.