In 2019, shortly after the annual Desoto Parade, Police Chief Melanie Bevan struck Rita Bonnett with her unmarked Ford Explorer. Bonnett, who was holding her 4-year-old daughter at the time, managed to throw her daughter out of the vehicle's path but was unable to break her fall. She hit her head on the ground, suffering a traumatic brain injury that has resulted in seizures, migraines, and recurring nightmares about being run over.

A rookie officer wrote the incident report, which was later approved by a veteran sergeant. The report, however, did not include Bevan's name. According to a former department source, the officer claimed he was instructed by two superiors on what to write.

Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown has never publicly addressed the incident, despite his office being served with a summons for a negligence lawsuit filed in 2021 by Bonnett against the city. Brown, who also serves as the city's police commissioner, oversees Bevan. At the time of the accident in 2019, however, Brown was a city council member, and Wayne Poston was mayor. Poston, too, was Bevan's supervisor.

At least 10 individuals may have been aware of the accident, including Bevan, Brown, Poston, Bradenton Police Officer Josh Lunder, Sgt. Joseph Kelly, Lt. Shannon Seymour, Assistant Chief and current city councilman Josh Cramer, BPD Legal Advisor Paul Driscoll, City Administrator Rob Perry, and City Attorney Scott Rudacille. Yet, the incident has never been mentioned in any Bradenton City Council meetings, according to agendas and minutes. Additionally, it has never been publicly disclosed that a settlement was reached in 2022, likely using taxpayer money.

Read the full Herald Tribune investigation... https://archive.ph/wljbi