State Capital News

Governor assigns Hillsborough State Attorney to head up Panhandle Boot Camp Investigation Jeb Bush E-mail This Article Printable Version   Tallahassee, Florida -- Gov. Jeb Bush has assigned Hillsborough State Attorney Mark Ober to take over the investigation into the death of a 14-year-old boy at the Bay County Boot Camp. The governor's office said Tuesday evening that the local state attorney, Steve Meadows, is stepping aside "to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest or impropriety." "The Governor has determined that public confidence would be promoted by a review of the findings of the Medical Examiner of District 14 (Bay County) as pertains to the death of Martin Anderson," the governor said in a statement. Anderson died hours after being struck and kneed by guards during a half-hour encounter at the juvenile boot camp. The mother of a teenager says the guards routinely abused juveniles at the boot camp. Shauna Manning also accuses the Bay County camp's nurse of dismissing juveniles' medical issues because she believed the boys were faking to try to get out of the program. Martin Anderson died hours after a confrontation with camp guards. A medical examiner says an autopsy shows the teenager died as a result of complication with sickle cell anemia, a usually nonfatal disorder of the blood. Medical experts are casting doubt on that conclusion. Manning says her 14-year-old son Aaron Swartz was distraught after witnessing how guards treated Anderson on January 5th. Swartz reported Martin Anderson had run 15 of the required 16 laps before he started complaining about breathing trouble and could not go on. Videotape from a security camera at the boot camp shows Anderson was struck and kneed by guards during an exercise drill. Governor's Office, The AP, Tampa Bay's 10 News

More State Capital News Articles: Vouchers, class size top lengthy education agenda for lawmakers Governor assigns Hillsborough State Attorney to head up Panhandle Boot Camp Investigation Hall of Famer Willie Mays helps celebrate Black History month Davis compares state GOP leaders to Castro at Democrat luncheon Governor wants to lure more researchers to Florida Sex offenders, DNA evidence among crime issues in Legislature Manatee deaths in January jumped by a third statewide State Sen. Mandy Dawson will undergo back surgery in Miami Doctor who did teen's autopsy had earlier questionable reports Inside two schools: one a consistent F, another straight A