Anniston businessman claims to have been threatened by councilman

Councilman David Reddick

An Anniston  businessman has alleged that an Anniston city councilman threatened his shop Wednesday because of the Confederate flag displayed there. Councilman, David Reddick, said it's a misunderstanding. Milton Ford, owner of Ford’s Barber Shop on Bynum Leatherwood Road, said Reddick threatened his business with reprisal from the city if the Confederate flag hanging from its front door wasn't removed. Reddick said that’s untrue and that he instead was trying to explain his opposition to a city proposal he claims could give the council overreaching power, including the ability to arbitrarily close businesses or force residents to remove flags from their homes.  Ford said Thursday that he was getting a lawyer to deal with it.  City Manager Brian Johnson said Thursday he had spoken with callers who said they witnessed the exchange. Johnson said they alleged Reddick demanded the flag be removed or else the police and fire departments wouldn't respond to calls from the business.  Mayor Vaughn Stewart said he spoke with Ford on Thursday and told him the city would never do such a thing to a business or any resident.  Johnson said even if Reddick threatened to direct city departments to ignore calls from the business, there was likely nothing the city could do about it since he took no action. Under the city's Council-Manager Act, the mayor and council are allowed to make policy and requests of the city manager. However, the mayor and council don't have the authority to give direct orders to other city employees.

Reddick said he never threatened Ford or his business.

Reddick said he was trying to explain his opposition to a proposed city ordinance that would allow the city to declare properties public nuisances if they contained a pattern of criminal activity.