City manager urges council action after what he calls sustained harassment, threats and defamation

The city manager told the Hamlet City Council that ongoing targeted harassment, stalking, cyberstalking, doxing, intimidation and defamation connected to his official duties have escalated beyond what closed sessions alone have addressed and require formal council direction and institutional remedies.

"The purposes of the staff report is to formally notify the city council in open session of ongoing targeted harassment, stalking, cyberstalking, doxing, intimidation, defamation, and safety concerns directed at myself arising from actions taken in my official capacity," the city manager said, listing allegedly circulated videos and written communications that portray violence toward elected and appointed officials.

Why it matters: The manager said the pattern has moved beyond public forums into his private residential neighborhood, created personal-safety concerns for his family, increased legal exposure for the city and is affecting executive leadership continuity. He told the council he has pursued litigation and asked for clear direction on protective and legal measures the city should take.

Details: The manager identified a mix of conduct he says has escalated the risk, including publicly distributed video content that he said uses real likenesses to depict explosions and physical assaults, repeated defamatory written statements, and what he termed the misuse of legal processes. In his presentation he named several individuals in the transcript (including Escamilla Vladimir and Sean Patrick Smith) and said some communications were circulated through traditional media as well as social platforms; he said prior closed-session work with legal counsel had not stopped the conduct.

Public response: In the meeting's public-comment period, local resident Esco Latimer said he agreed with the manager's characterization and described a series of local incidents he said were tied to disputes with city staff; Latimer said court action had cleared him of certain allegations and that he had spent his own money on neighborhood cleanup and community support. "All I've done for the city is try to help the city improve," Latimer said.

Council action: After the public comment period the council approved a motion to move into closed session. The public transcript does not show a council vote on specific protective measures during open session; the manager requested formal council direction and institutional action in open session and then the council entered closed session to discuss matters further.

What remains unclear or unaddressed on the public record: The manager said he has filed civil litigation and referenced specific individuals and incidents in his prepared remarks; the transcript records names but does not include supporting exhibits or a public explanation from the named individuals. The council's public action was to enter closed session after the report; any subsequent legal or personnel steps were not disclosed on the public record in this meeting.