Pembroke Park Commissioner Geoffrey Jacobs has been charged with misuse of the 911 system after alleging the mayor was known to have a gun and that he feared for his safety, according to police.
The incident happened just before a town commission meeting on Nov. 8 when Jacobs called the Broward Sheriff’s Office to talk about Mayor Ashira Mohammed, police said. “It was expressed by Commissioner Jacobs complaint that Mayor Mohammed has been displaying threatening behavior by yelling at him and that Mayor Mohammed is known to carry a firearm coupled with her boasting about a firearm,” according to a Pembroke Park police report. “The Broward Sheriff’s Office Dispatch advised Commissioner Jacobs stated that a commission meeting is about to begin, and he has safety concerns.”
Broward Court records show the charge was filed against Jacobs this month, to which Jacobs has pleaded not guilty.
Jacobs’ attorney, Michael Pizzi, said Jacobs called the non-emergency line to express concern for his safety, but had not alleged she had a gun. Pizzi also has filed a motion to dismiss, saying Jacobs had not called 911, and calling the case an “utterly baseless political attack orchestrated by political opponents who are seeking to destroy a duly elected commissioner because he has exposed corruption in the town.”
When a Pembroke Park officer spoke with Jacobs, the commissioner said “he’s in fear for his safety due to the fact that he believes Mayor Mohammed was carrying a firearm in the commission chambers, which is his initial complaint,” the police report said.
During the meeting in November, the mayor consented to a search of her purse, which was recorded on YouTube as the meeting was streamed live. She did not have a weapon.
“This is not the first allegation that has been thrown my way,” she said during the meeting. She also patted herself down in front of the camera. “It’s upsetting to have the police called on you to say you’re doing something when you’re not.”
According to police, Mohammed said she didn’t know why Jacobs would think she had a gun, adding she “never said or expressed that fact she had a firearm on her person.” In the police report, she said, “Commissioner Geoffrey Jacobs sat next to me on the dais with a room full of officers, not sure why he would be in fear.”
Jacobs’ lawyer also readied a letter, dated Feb. 11, to notify Pembroke Park of Jacobs’ intent to sue the town for $10 million, alleging false arrest, defamation and slander, among other issues.
Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com. Follow on X, formerly Twitter, @LisaHuriash