Disorderly conduct charges against a Long County commissioner and a former commissioner were dismissed this week.
Current District 2 Commissioner Wallace Shaw and former District 5 Commissioner Tony Fowler both went before Long County State Court Judge Jeff Arnold on Wednesday to address charges of disorderly conduct, which stemmed from an incident that occurred late last year.
According to a report provided by the Long County Sheriff’s Office, Shaw was asked Dec. 19 by Tax Commissioner Becky Fowler to leave the Long County Tax Commissioner’s Office. According to the report, Shaw had been in the office regarding a billing issue when he reportedly became belligerent and disruptive with Fowler’s staff. She asked him to leave, but he refused. The sheriff’s office was contacted and a deputy responded and asked Shaw to leave. Shaw obliged and headed to the county courthouse, where, according to the report, he entered the commissioner’s office.
A few minutes later, former commissioner Tony Fowler, who is Becky Fowler’s husband, entered that office. The report stated that Fowler confronted Shaw regarding his interaction with Fowler’s wife. Fowler then asked Shaw to “step outside to take care of the problem,” according to the report. After the argument, Fowler left the office.
Both men were charged with disorderly conduct Dec. 21 and served with warrants for the charges by the Long County Sheriff’s Office.
On Wednesday, both Shaw and Fowler told Arnold that the matter had been resolved and asked the judge to dismiss the charges. Arnold agreed.
After their court appearance, the men agreed they were happy to put the matter behind them.
“We were able to work it out. There’s no hard feelings between me and Wallace, and I’m glad to put the matter behind me,” Fowler said.
“It was a misunderstanding — a gentleman’s argument — that I think was blown out of proportion by the public. We go to church together, and if we could take it back, we would. But it’s over with. There’s no hard feelings, and I’m glad we worked it out,” Shaw said.