Meeting attendance leads to stalking charge

A man who went to a county commission meeting to hear a department head speak despite a court order to stay 100 feet away from her was charged Thursday with violation of a protection from stalking order.

Planning and zoning director Sharon Omstead in November got a restraining order against Tom Britain after an encounter at a Florence convenience store where Britain, an opponent of a wind farm being developed in the county, told Omstead he “would take care of her,” that his words were “not a threat,” and “it’s going to happen.”

During a recess in last week’s meeting, Omstead, county clerk Tina Spencer, and commissioners called police to report Britain had come into the room. Britain left the scene before police arrived.

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