Tuscaloosa City Council Meeting: Guns & Ammo License Revocation Hearing Denied – September 30, 2025
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Good evening, everyone.
The Tuscaloosa City Council has now come to order.
We ask that everyone please stand for our council prayer and then remain standing for our pledge of allegiance.
Let's bow our heads, please.
Dear God, bless our proceedings tonight.
Give us the wisdom to know what is just and the strength to do what is right.
Amen.
Pledge allegiance is the flag of the United States of America.
And to the Republic, which is stands one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.
Please be seated.
Approval of the minutes.
I make a motion to approve the minutes.
Second.
It's been moved and seconded to approve the minutes.
Voting, Mr.
Even.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Minutes stand approved.
Before we get to proclamations and statements by Mayor and Council.
Is there a motion to move revoking the business license privilege?
Business and privilege to renew the business license of guns and ammo.
Authorizing the amendment number 19 to fiscal year 2025 budget.
So this will second.
Moved and second.
What this will essentially do is make it the last item on the agenda, and that way all the other items of the city can be taken care of, and our focus can be on that hearing.
Beginning of vote has been moved and second.
Beginning of vote with Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Okay.
The agenda item has been moved.
Do we have any statements by council members?
Do we have any agenda item comments by citizens?
Yes, sir.
We have no unfinished business tonight.
Consent agenda, clerk.
This approves items A through G on the consent agenda.
Move adoption.
Second.
Moved and second.
Voting, Mr.
Eatman.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Consent agenda is adopted.
Public hearings, clerk.
This orders demolition of the structure located at 881 Wiley Road.
Motion.
Second.
Moved and second.
Mr.
Williams.
Mr.
Mayor, City Council.
This is for the condemnation of 881 Wiley Drive.
Condemned July 15th, 2025.
This property has 49 housing code violations.
The owner has been contacted as aware of this hearing.
The owner is aware that if it's condemned and demolished, cost of demolition will be charged back to the owner.
Since pre-council, I was notified by our zoning commission that these trailers cannot be repaired under the new zoning laws.
So our motion is to go forward with it.
I'm not sure if an old the owner or a representative is here to represent.
Anyone here representing property located at 881 Wally Road?
Is there anyone here wishing to speak for or against this demolition?
Any other questions of Mr.
Williams?
Seeing none.
I'm sorry, Mayor.
I need to make sure this is for two trailers and the accessory buildings that are on the property.
Any questions, Mr.
Williams?
Seeing none, voting Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Demolition's order.
Thank you, Mr.
Williams.
Clerk.
This approves a restaurant retail liquor license for El Agave, Mexican Bar and Grill in Tuscaloosa.
Move it option.
Second.
Moved and second.
Mr.
Mills.
All right, good evening, Mayor and Council.
This is ABC.
I call application 25-052 for El Agave Tuscaloosa LLC, DBA Elegave, Mexican Grill and Bar.
They're applying for a restaurant retail liquor license located at 1800 McFarlane Boulevard East Suite 430.
Hours of operation will be seven days a week, 11 a.m.
to 10 p.m.
The first map shows the area map of the location, uh, followed by my zoning map.
Um all my reports have been filed to city clerk office.
Officer champion give, I'm sorry, Officer Braskin will give us report followed by the applicant to ask any questions.
Thank you, Mr.
Mills.
Officer Branskell.
Good evening, Mayor.
Council.
Uh after reviewing this application uh for Elgave Mexican Bar and Grill, we have no objection to the application.
Okay.
Is the applicant here?
If you would, sir, please come forward and give your name and address.
Hello, council.
Thank you.
Mayor, thank you.
Uh my name is George with a J J R G E Press.
We get a last name.
Uh, Press, uh, P-E-R-E-Z.
Uh I am uh managing partner.
Uh the location uh is it my address, my personal address location, or is it that restaurant location?
I don't know.
Either one will be okay.
Uh yeah, the the restaurant's gonna be at 1800 uh McFarland Boulevard East, uh suite 430 uh in Tuscaloosa in midtown village.
This this is in midtown.
With the old Buffalo Cafe used to be in the old guana the old Buffalo Cafe space, yes, sir.
Can you tell me what type of business so it's uh Tex Mex restaurant?
Uh we're a small chain.
We have five locations in North Mississippi.
Uh this is our first Alabama location.
Uh and we should be opening soon uh after the approval, hopefully of you guys and uh the health inspection.
What are your hours?
Uh our hours are from 10 to from 11 to 10, uh Monday through Sunday.
Yes, sir.
Any other questions from the city council?
No, sir.
I appreciate you guys.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you, Mr.
This is a public hearing.
Is there anyone here wishing to speak for or against this license?
Seeing none, voting Mr.
Eatman.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Restaurant retail liquor license is approved.
Resolution and ordinances not of a general nature or permanent operation, clerk.
This approves a less than seven days special events retail license for party down LLC Move adoption second moved and second, Mr.
Mills.
Okay, Mayor and Council.
This is ABC I call application 25-053 for party down LLC DBA Pi Capify formal to apply for special retail less than seven days located at 130 University Boulevard.
This is an area map of my location.
All my reports have been filed with the city clerk office.
Officer Branson can give a support followed by the applicant to ask any questions.
Officer Branson also after examining this application, we have no objections to this application.
Thank you.
Is the applicant here?
If you would please come forward and give your name and address.
Lauren Shoemaker, 13800 Wire Road, Cottendale, Alabama.
Any questions, Miss Shoemaker?
All right.
Thank you very much.
Voting, Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Applications approved.
Good luck.
Clerk.
This approves a less than seven days special events retail license for the wild game cook-off.
Move adoption.
Second.
Moved and second, Mr.
Mills.
Hey, Mayor and Council.
This is ABC I call application 25-054.
Alabama Wildlife Federation, DBA to Wild Game Cook Off.
They're applying for a 240 special nonprofit tax exempt located at 652 Watermelon Road.
This is the area map of the location.
All my reports have been filed to see the clerk offices.
Office of Brass will give us report followed by the applicant to ask any questions.
Officer Bransville.
Yes, once again, after uh the police department has reviewed this application.
We don't have any objections to it.
Okay.
Is the applicant here?
If you would, sir, please come forward and give your name and address.
Yes, Thomas Tidwell, and good to see you guys again.
Yes and you want the address of our uh business?
Yes, sir.
350 Lanart Road, uh Millbrook, Alabama.
36 uh 054.
Any questions, Mr.
Tigwell?
How many years have you all done this?
We've been doing them 20 something years.
Um I've been doing them for 18.
All over and we do them all over the state of Alabama.
So it's fundraiser and uh membership uh kind of thing.
Any other questions?
Thank you.
Voting, Mr.
Eatman.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Applications approved, clerk.
This tentatively awards a public works contract to price civil services incorporated.
Move adoption.
Second.
Moved and second, vote, Mr.
Lanier.
Yes, yes.
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
Yes.
Resolutions adopted, clerk.
This authorizes a professional engineering services agreement with CSL services incorporated.
Move adoption.
Second.
Moved and second, voting Mr.
Eatman.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolutions adopted, clerk.
This authorizes execution of a real estate sales contract with Nelda P.
Goldsmith.
Motion.
Second.
Moved and second.
Voting Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolutions adopted.
Clerk.
This will authorize Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue Service to accept donated equipment from Newport Steel Tuscaloosa.
Move adoption.
Second.
Moved and second.
Though you Mr.
Eatman.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolutions adopted.
Clerk.
This authorizes professional services contract with Grow Marketing LLC.
Some move.
Second.
Moved and second.
Though you Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolutions adopted.
Clerk.
This will authorize amendment number two to the minor public works contract with Freeman Sheet Metal Incorporated.
Some.
Second.
Move and second.
Voting Mr.
Eatman.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolution's adopted.
Clerk.
This authorizes amendment number one to the minor public works contract with Jacob Applied America's incorporated.
Motion.
Second.
Moved and second.
Voting Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolutions adopted.
Clerk.
This authorizes a minor public works contract with main stage theatrical supply incorporated.
Move adoption.
Second.
Moved and second, vote, Mr.
Eatman.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolution is adopted.
Clerk.
This authorizes an as needed fiscal year 2026 minor public works contract with Meeks Environmental.
Some move.
Second.
Move and second by Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolutions adopted.
Clerk.
This authorizes a joint funding agreement with the USGS Water Resources Division regarding North River and Lake Tuscaloosa.
So move.
Second.
Moved and second, voting Mr.
Eatman.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolutions adopted.
Clerk.
This authorizes a joint funding agreement with the USGS Water Resources Division regarding Cribs Milkery.
Motion.
Second.
Moved and second, vote, Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolutions adopted.
Clerk.
This authorizes a funding agreement with the Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission.
Motion.
Second.
Moved and second, vote, Mr.
Eatman.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolutions adopted.
Clerk.
This establishes the fiscal year 2026 general fund reserve for future improvements fund budget.
Motion.
Second.
Moved and second, vote, Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolutions adopted.
Clerk.
This authorizes expenditure capability for the general fund facility renewal fund for fiscal year 2026.
Motion.
Second.
Moved and second.
Voting Mr.
Eatman.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolutions adopted.
Clerk.
This authorizes execution of agency funding contracts for 2026.
So moved.
Second.
Moved and second.
Vogue Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolutions adopted.
Clerk.
This authorizes the appropriation of certain opioid settlement funds to Freedom Farm Incorporated.
Motion.
Second.
Moved and second.
Volume Mr.
Eatman.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
No.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolution is adopted.
Clerk.
This authorizes the appropriation of certain opioid settlement funds to Phoenix House Incorporated.
Motion.
Second.
Moved and second by Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolutions adopted.
Clerk.
This establishes the fiscal year 2026 water and sewer reserve for future improvements fund budget.
Move and motion.
Second.
Move and second by Mr.
Eatman.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolution is adopted.
Clerk.
This authorizes expenditure capability for the water and sewer facility renewal fund for fiscal year 2026.
Motion.
Second.
Moved and second by Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolutions adopted.
Ordinances and resolutions of the general nature are permanent operation.
Clerk.
This suspends pay plan step raises to include one step for fiscal year 2026 and amends section 1942 exhibit D of the city's pay plan.
Some move.
Second.
Moved and second, voting Mr.
Eatman.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Do I hear?
Off unanimous consent.
Second.
Moved and second for unanimous consent.
Voting Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Resolutions adopted.
Clerk.
This will amend chapter seven of the code of Tuscaloosa.
Some move.
Second.
Moved and second, vote, Mr.
Eatman.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Off unanimous consent.
Second.
Moved and second, vote, Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Code is amended.
Clerk.
This adopts the general fund budget for fiscal year 2026.
Some of the second.
Moved and second.
Voting Mr.
Eatman.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Off unanimous consent.
Second.
Moved and second.
Voting Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Fiscal 26 general fund budget is adopted.
Clerk.
This adopts a water and sewer fund budget for fiscal year 2026.
Motion.
Second.
Moved and second.
Voting Mr.
Eatman.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Off for unanimous consent.
Second.
Moved and second, voting Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Water and sewer fund for fiscal year 2026 is adopted.
Clerk.
This establishes the 2026 elevate Tuscaloosa fund budget.
Some move.
Second.
Moved and second, voting Mr.
Eatman.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Off unanimous consent.
Second.
Moved and second.
Voting Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Fiscal 26 elevate Tuscaloosa fund budget is approved.
Clerk.
This amends sections 1690 and 16156 of the code of Tuscaloosa.
Sumove.
Second.
Moved and second, voting Mr.
Eatman.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Off unanimous consent.
Second.
Moved and second.
Voting Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Code is amended, Clerk.
This authorizes amendment number 19 to the fiscal year 2025 general fund budget.
Motion.
Second.
Moved and second.
Voting, Mr.
Eatman.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
I'll for unanimous consent.
Second.
Move and second.
Volume, Mr.
Lanier.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Funding amendment is adopted.
Clerk.
This revokes the business license and the privilege to renew the business license of guns and ammo LLC.
So moved.
Second.
It's been moved and second.
If we can bring up the PowerPoint regarding business license revocation hearing.
So before we begin the hearing, I would like to review with the city council and the public that is here and also watching on myriad forms our hearing procedure, because it's a very rare thing for the City of Tuscaloosa to do.
As I told you earlier today, I think less than 10 times in my entire career has this process been exercised.
So the hearing procedure is set out in Tuscaloosa City Code Section 733, and we will follow those processes and procedures.
Though aspects of this hearing may mirror a court of law, this is not a judicial proceeding.
The mayor presides over the hearing as chair and is charged with maintaining order.
This includes opening statement, presentation of evidence, interviews of witnesses, questions from the city council to the city attorney and or witnesses.
The city attorney's opening statement will be made from the center podium as well as the presentation of evidence.
When the city attorney interviews a witness, a witness will be at the center podium, and the city attorney will be to the podium to my right.
Next slide.
Licensee or their counsel will have no more than 30 minutes to present their case.
This includes opening statement, presentation of evidence, interviews of witnesses, and questions from the council to witnesses and or licensee or licensees counsel.
Licensee or their counsel's opening statement and presentation of the evidence will take from the center podium.
When the licensee or their counsel interviews a witness, the witness will be at the center podium with the licensee or their counsel at the left podium.
Next slide.
Following the presentations by the city attorney and licensee, members of the public may address the city council up to two minutes.
There will be a clock that will be positioned most likely to on the right hand side of the screen, but will be prominent for you to be able to follow.
The council may choose to recall a witness or question or pose additional questions to the city attorney, the licensee, or the licensees council.
At the conclusion of the public hearing, both the city attorney and licensee and their or and or their council will be allowed five minutes to close.
Immediately following, the city council will discuss the revocation in public forum prior to voting.
Next slide.
Depending upon the length of the hearing, the chair may call for a recess of the proceedings.
All cellular devices are to be silenced for the hearing.
And since this is a hearing, the right of due process deserves our respect and full attention.
At this point, I will call upon the city attorney's office to begin their 30 minutes.
Thank you, Mayor.
And at this point, we'll move to exhibit uh admit exhibit A.
I believe Ms.
Johnson gave you a copy of it.
Thank you.
Is it admitted?
Yes.
Thank you.
Good evening, Council.
Before we get started, um, there's something I'd like to briefly address.
I think by now everybody knows that last month TPD executed uh search warrant at Guns and Ammo.
That led to various charges uh getting brought against the manager and the owner of guns and ammo.
Uh and those charges are down in municipal court.
The reality is that those charges barely scratch the surface of why we're here tonight.
Um I'll tell you what I mean.
Uh as Mr.
Wakefield, I think said in a in a recent uh news story about about this, um he got those charges because of bad bookkeeping.
Um taking him out of his word, that's serious on its own.
Um if you're a bad bookkeeper for um an ice cream stand, then you might accidentally overdraw from a bank account.
Um if you're a bad bookkeeper when you're selling used guns, there can be extremely serious consequences, which which we'll get into actually in a minute.
Um but but here's the thing.
Um we're asking you to revoke Mr.
Wakefield's business license, not just because he's a bad bookkeeper, uh, but because the whole way he operates his business jeopardizes public safety, and he couldn't care less.
I'm gonna give you some examples.
Um two occasions that we can prove, frankly, probably a lot more that we can't prove.
He has sold stolen guns to innocent customers.
Um if you want to look at uh handed out packets um in the front of the the booklet, there's a roadmap.
I believe this was sent to y'all.
Um item two.
Um tonight we're gonna hear about a customer that got arrested in a neighboring county because the gun he bought from Mr.
Wakefield turned out to be stolen.
He got arrested and charged with a felony.
He almost lost his job.
And there's a similar incident actually uh here in Tuscaloosa County with a sheriff's deputy here almost doing the same thing, almost arresting somebody, and this guy's saying, Wait, wait, wait, I didn't steal this gun, I I bought it from guns and ammo.
So we've got stories of people unknowingly buying stolen guns from guns and ammo.
A question comes up where does guns and ammo get the stolen guns?
If you'll look at item five on um or item four on the roadmap, excuse me.
Uh over four months this spring, guns and ammo bought four different guns from the same convicted felon.
Now a question has come up.
Did they know that he was a convicted felon?
Well, here's what we know.
Item five on the roadmap.
That fourth gun that he sold had been reported stolen.
Investigator Kervin with TPD goes to Guns and Ammo to investigate.
He talks to the manager.
He seizes the stolen gun.
He explains that this guy who has been selling them several guns by now, four guns by now, who has already sold them a stolen gun, is a convicted felon.
Item six.
Five days after that conversation, the same manager from Guns and Ammo buys a fifth gun from this convicted felon.
The same convicted felon that just sold them a stolen gun.
So did they know from the beginning that this guy was a convicted felon?
I don't know.
But what we do know is after they bought the fourth gun from him, investigator Kervin told them.
So we know we knew then.
And he still went on doing what he was doing.
And it's not gonna get better going forward.
Um here's what I mean.
Item seven on the roadmap when investigator Kervin and FBI agent Mason Hubbard uh show up to guns and ammo uh less than a week after they buy that uh fifth gun uh from the convicted felon.
He tries to have them trespass.
The manager of guns and ammo tries to have them trespass at the direction of the owner.
He tried to have law enforcement trespass when they were investigating a criminal activity.
I mean, we're not talking about him being unfriendly to law enforcement, we're not talking about him being uncooperative.
Um we're talking about him wanting to make their investigation of this convicted felon as difficult as possible.
Because that's what he thinks of law enforcement.
Now, ultimately TPD went in and charged him with violating uh city code, and I think that's largely because he's a bad bookkeeper.
But this goes much much deeper than bad bookkeeping.
Mr.
Wakefield sells stolen guns.
He buys stolen guns from convicted felons.
He tries to have our officers trespassed because he wants to make it difficult for them to investigate other people's criminal activities.
Um for the sake of public safety, we're asking you to revoke his business license.
And with that, I'm gonna uh call our first witness, uh investigator Jeffrey Kervin.
Mayor, do we ask questions as we go along?
It's it's up to you as a city council.
I think you mentioned that the owner and the manager currently have charges filed against him in municipal court.
What are the charges?
There are charges for failure to um report.
Um we'll get into them in the presentation if you'd like me to cover them then, but their their failure to um report um transactions on leads online as required by municipal code.
I believe that's 7162 and 7163, but don't quote me on those exact numbers.
There's also a charge or several charges related to selling guns before the 10-day window in which they were supposed to hold secondhand goods.
Investigator Carvin.
Where do you work?
Work at the Tuscaloosa Police Department.
What do you do there?
Currently signed to the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.
Okay.
Um I'll jump right in.
This this photo we've got up here is the storefront of guns and ammo.
The sign says buy, sell trade.
Does guns and ammo buy used guns for resale?
Yes, they do.
Okay.
When you buy and sell uh or buy used goods for resale in city limits, are there certain code requirements you're supposed to meet?
Yes.
Okay.
Um if you will turn in your booklet to page 16.
16?
16, yes, sir.
And when you get to it, if you'll tell me what we're looking at, investigator.
This is the City of Tuscaloosa municipal ordinance concerning secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers.
Okay.
What are the certain what are the specific things that you have to do?
When you buy a secondhand good, you have to upload those transactions to leads online by noon the next day.
You have to take a colored photograph of the person who's selling the item.
You also have to uh record the vehicle make and model that the person was was driving.
Okay.
Um and Mr.
Busby, in answer to your question, most of the citations will relate to not uploading photos to leads online as required by the next business day.
Um so you've got to upload a picture of the person holding the used good, whether it's a video game or a or a gun or a piece of like I don't know, a chainsaw, whatever they are selling, they've got to hold a picture, they've got to hold it and get a picture of themselves with it.
Yes, that's correct.
All right.
Why do we go through all this trouble?
In case the second hand good turns out to be stolen, it helps law enforcement identify the person who is selling the item.
Okay.
Um so it uh facilitates investigation of potential criminal activity?
Yes.
Okay.
And then also I'm assuming this would deter somebody who who um has stolen um something to from trying to sell it at a pawn shop, right?
Yes.
So I I guess it has the additional benefit of ensuring that customers in our city um uh can know within reason that when they're buying something from a secondhand goods store, um, they're not buying stolen goods.
That's correct.
Okay.
Um the owner of uh guns and ammo, Joshua Wakefield, did he know about this ordinance?
Yes, he did.
Okay.
Um I'm gonna get you to turn to 23 in the booklet.
Can y'all hear me by the way?
I'm sorry.
Um what page?
23.
23.
And if you'll tell me what we're looking at.
You were looking at a uh letter that was delivered along with the copy of municipal ordinance.
Okay, when was that dated?
March 14th, 2016.
Okay.
And it's a letter from who?
Investigator J.
Keene.
Okay.
From TPD?
Yes.
Saying that we are attention, all secondhand dealers we're enforcing this ordinance.
That's correct.
Okay.
If you'll turn to page 25 now.
What's this a picture of?
This was a letter from Mr.
Wakefield's attorney, John Fisher addressed to city attorney Scott Holmes.
If you'll read that highlighted portion.
Mr.
Wakefield will not be complying with the directives contained in said package, in that it is an act of overreaching by the city, which is clearly prohibited by state law.
Okay, so he's saying it's unconstitutional, I believe.
And then if you'll turn to page 32.
Is this an opinion from the Attorney General's office saying that this um this municipal ordinance is in fact constitutional?
Yes, this was from Luther Strange.
Okay, thank you.
Um now I want to jump uh forward to a citation that Mr.
Wakefield received in 2019, but before we get there, um is it fair to say that sometime before April 27th of 2018?
Mr.
Wakefield bought a um bought a used gun for resale and didn't report it on leads online as required.
I know of at least two instances.
Yes, okay.
And there's one I'm talking about where um that gun turned out to be stolen, right?
That's correct.
Okay.
Um and then a customer later went into the store and bought that gun.
Yes.
And uh the next year in 2019, that customer was traveling in, I believe Bibb County, and um got stopped at a traffic stop, and um the officers or the sheriff's deputy, I believe, found the gun, charged him with a felony for being in receipt of a stolen weapon.
That's correct.
Okay.
He got arrested.
Yes, he did.
Okay, and almost lost his job.
Yes, he did.
Because Mr.
Wakefield had not reported this transaction as required by code.
That is correct.
Okay.
Um if you'll turn to page 67, and and we're gonna briefly cover this when I don't y'all don't have to turn all the way back in the back of your booklets if you don't want to, but is this another incident?
67?
Yes, this is an offense report written by the Tuscosa County Sheriff's Office.
Where somebody had bought a gun from Guns and Ammo and then almost got arrested for being in possession of stolen property?
Yes.
Okay.
Um and investigator Holloway ended up issuing a citation to Mr.
Wakefield, is that right?
Yes, we did.
Okay.
And uh when you issued the citation to him, was was he cooperative?
No, he was not.
Okay.
If you'll turn with me to page 36 in the booklet.
If you'll read that highlighted portion, please.
Mr.
Wakefield was asked if he routinely reports his second hand purchases to leads online as per requirements of City Ordinance 7-162.
Mr.
Wakefield responded no and stated he did not agree with the ordinance.
Okay, so somebody just got um arrested because he sold him a stolen gun.
Yes.
And this is Wakefield's response.
Yes, it is.
Okay.
So just to recap, in 2016, we've got him saying that he's not going to comply with the ordinance because he doesn't believe it's constitutional, and and later um the attorney general's office says it is constitutional.
2018, a customer uh inadvertently buys a stolen gun and gets arrested for it.
And then in 2019, Mr.
Wakefield tells you and investigator Holloway that he doesn't believe uh doesn't believe in the ordinance and doesn't routinely follow it.
That's correct.
Okay.
Um I want to jump ahead to 2025.
Um is it fair to say that uh at the beginning of 2025 or at the beginning of this summer, you were not actually investigating guns and ammo?
That is correct.
Who were you investigating?
Convicted felon by the name of Christopher Collins.
Okay.
Um and were other agencies involved?
Yes, uh the FBI.
Okay.
Who with the FBI were you working with?
Special Agent Hubbard.
Okay.
You said you and Special Agent Hubbard were investigating Christopher Collins.
Um does Christopher Collins have a criminal history?
Yes, he does.
Okay.
If you'll turn with me to page 41 in the booklet.
What are we looking at here?
This is an affidavit charging uh Christopher Collins with robbery in the first degree.
Okay.
Um if you will read that highlighted portion, please.
Denard Eugene Beal, along with Frederick Alvis Taylor Jr., Christopher Dwayne Collins, and Darien Marquise Harris entered 600 East Boundary Street with guns in their hands, pointing the pistols at the occupants of the department, demanding money.
Okay.
So he was charged with armed robbery home invasion.
Yes, he was.
Okay.
And and on page 44 of the booklet, you don't have to turn to it, but did he end up pleading guilty to robbery in the first degree as charged?
Yes, he did.
Okay.
Um would that conviction of armed robbery home invasion make it a crime for him to be in possession of a firearm?
Yes, it would.
Okay, would it be a state crime?
Yes.
Would it be a federal crime?
Yes, it is.
Okay, and we're talking about a felony.
Serious prison time.
Okay, that he could go to prison for.
Um, if you'll turn with me to page 47 of the booklet, what are we looking at?
This is Mr.
Christopher Collins.
Okay, where is he?
He is at Guns and Ammo.
What's he doing there?
He is selling the pistol you see him holding.
Okay.
Um turn with me to page 49, please.
And this is obscured a little bit by the by the uh time, but what's this a picture of?
This is again Mr.
Collins selling the shotgun you see him holding at guns and ammo.
Okay, and and what date was he selling that shotgun?
618, 2025.
Okay.
If you'll turn to page 51.
What is this a picture of?
This is again Mr.
Collins at Guns and Ammo.
Okay.
Um and he's selling that gun to Guns and Ammo?
Yes, he is.
Okay.
Do you know where he got all these guns?
You don't have to guess if you don't know.
Um if you'll turn to page 53, please.
What is this a picture of?
This is Mr.
Collins again selling a stolen shotgun to guns and ammo.
Okay, so this gun is stolen.
Yes, it is.
And and this is the Christopher Collins who you and Special Agent Hubbard are investigating this summer.
Yes.
Okay.
When you find out that um guns and ammo has just bought a stolen shotgun from um Christopher Collins, do you end up going to the store?
Yes, we do.
Okay.
Do y'all have a conversation with um the manager?
Yes.
Okay.
Uh and and who was the manager?
Rex Piggott.
Okay.
And and did you explain to him why well, first of all, did you get the shotgun?
Yes, we seized the stolen shotgun.
Why?
Because it was it's evidence in a crime.
Okay.
It's evidence of a crime, it's a stolen shotgun.
You seize it.
You explain to Mr.
Piggott why you're seizing that gun?
Yes.
Okay.
Do you explain that um Mr.
Collins is a convicted felon?
That is correct.
Okay.
That this guy who bought who has sold them um four guns since March is a convicted felon?
Yes.
Okay.
What was the date of that conversation?
July 28th, 2025.
Okay.
Um, if you'll turn with me to page 62.
And this is a narrative from your investigation.
If you'll real we'll read that highlighted portion.
On 728-25, FBI special agent Hubbard and I responded to Guns and Ammo to retrieve one of the stolen guns sold by Collins.
At that time, I informed the manager Rex Piggott that Collins is a convicted felon on 8225 after being informed Collins is a convicted felon.
Guns and Ammo bought another firearm, a radical RF-15 from Collins.
Okay.
Um if you'll turn to page 55 now.
So Guns and Ammo buys four guns from this guy.
Yes.
You seize one of those guns because it's stolen.
Now it's evidence of a crime.
That's correct.
You tell the manager that this guy is a convicted felon.
Yes.
And then five days later, five days after that conversation, they buy another gun from him.
That is correct.
Okay, what are we looking at on page 55?
We're looking at Mr.
Collins holding the AR-15 he sold to Guns and Ammo.
Okay.
Um so I'm assuming that you're gonna have to go investigate um that last gun that Mr.
Collins sold because he's still selling guns.
That's correct.
Okay.
Uh now uh you mentioned to me earlier um before the hearing that there were two things that you wanted from um guns and ammo when you were investigating this last transaction.
What were those two things?
We needed to inspect the rifle that was sold, and we needed surveillance video.
Okay, and inspect the rifle.
Um take pictures of it?
Yes.
Okay.
And now in surveillance video, why do you need surveillance video?
We needed to see what kind of uh vehicle Mr.
Collins was driving so we could go arrest him.
Okay.
So you're trying to take him into custody as quickly as possible?
Yes.
Okay.
Um did you and Special Agent Hubbard go back to Guns and Ammo and try to get those two things?
Yes, we did.
Okay.
What happened when you got there?
The manager Rex Piggott tried to trespass me and special agent Hubbard from the store.
Okay.
Um now I believe this was August 7th.
Yes.
So five days after they bought that that um last gun from Mr.
Collins.
That's correct.
Okay.
And I guess a less than two weeks after you had come in saying Mr.
Collins is a convicted felon, don't buy any more guns from him.
Yes.
Okay.
So will you tell us what we're about to watch here?
This is a surveillance video from Guns and Ammo of the day we got trespassed.
Okay.
Okay.
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir, Mr.
Horry.
Yes, I'm sorry.
No.
I'm trying.
Trespass.
You're gonna have to trespass.
Right.
Okay.
Oh to tell you that, and I'm to call the trust patch number if you go ahead.
All right.
There's actually a number tape somewhere around here.
And I've seen you guys.
Actually, it's the ATF.
Yes, we can.
This is great.
I've got to ask for an officer come out to do it.
No trust pass.
All right.
Sweet warrant.
Okay.
Yeah.
And the right.
Yeah, if I can make one payment, you're good.
I guess he's trying to trespass.
Oh investigator Kerb.
Hey, sir.
I'm not sure what I'm not sure what we're doing.
I tried to tell them who they wanted to call you, so I had to.
Thank you.
Great.
You have a great page.
Okay.
That's good.
I had to do that.
Why did you have to do that?
Oh, I don't own this place.
Okay.
And I got to go to trust base if you take that.
So you realize you don't have a city business license, right?
I don't own this place.
Okay.
And I don't know what your Josh Passity is.
I don't have no idea.
Nor was I part of it then or belonging.
Okay.
I'll tell you what, I need to see this gun right here.
Okay.
That's all for you.
So they were obviously uh Mr.
Piggott was unable to trespass you.
Um I want to get something straight.
He wasn't being rude, was he?
No.
Okay.
He actually seemed kind of uncomfortable to me, because looks like he's trying to do what his boss told him to, even though it's very ill-advised.
That's correct.
Okay.
Um now how many times had you been in the store that month?
Two, maybe three.
Okay.
Had you ever been rude when you came in the store?
No.
Aggressive?
No.
When you came in that time, were you being rude or aggressive?
No.
Interrupting customers?
No, sir.
Okay.
Um now going back.
Obviously, they couldn't trespass you, but um to um the manager's credit, he did show you that gun that you asked for.
Yes, he did.
Okay.
Um, but he and and you didn't know here or don't know now.
He either couldn't show you the surveillance video um uh because he wasn't able to, or he was refusing to, and and you don't know as we stand here today which one was the case, right?
That's correct.
Okay.
Um did you did you end up going to get a warrant to get that surveillance footage?
Yes, I did.
Okay.
Now, did you um serve that warrant on guns and ammo the next day?
Yes, sir.
All right, there's been some talk about uh, I think uh like turning around the cameras when you when you came in the store.
Um did officers turn around the cameras when they came in the store?
Yes, why there's no DVR located at the store that saves video, video saved by Google in order to get a search warrant for Google.
I needed the serial numbers on the back of the cameras.
Okay.
Um so the um the security system is accessed remotely, you're telling me.
Yes, and I think Mr.
Swords has told me that.
Um so Mr.
Wakefield was watching.
Do you know whether Mr.
Wakefield would be able to watch the servant security?
I don't know, then okay.
Um, but are there other reasons as well to turn around a security camera?
Yes.
Okay, we we go into those.
Yeah, I don't know who's who's watching those cameras.
I don't know who's waiting next door.
I don't know who's got access to it.
It's not safe for for the officers.
Okay.
Okay.
Um and and after you executed that search warrant, I believe you issued Mr.
Piggott and Mr.
Wakefield several citations in municipal court.
Is that right?
26 of them.
Okay, if you'll turn to page 64 of the booklet, this is not one of the citations, but it's part of one of the files and it shows the different uh serial numbers of the guns for which you issued citations.
That's correct.
Okay.
Um I don't believe I have any further questions for you.
Thank you.
I have two.
Mr.
Bosch.
Um, Mr.
Kerr, or investigation.
One of them may be for you.
So I it it seems almost self-evident, but is buying a firearm from a foreign crime.
Um yes, sir.
I believe it is.
Why is he not charged with that in municipal court?
Well, municipal court doesn't have jurisdiction over federal crimes.
Does he charged in the court or jurisdiction?
I we m the city of Tuscaloosa does not have um the jurisdiction.
In fact, local law enforcement and investigator Kervin could speak more on this potentially, but you had a federal agent with that's gonna be a question for the U.S.
attorney.
I don't want to speak for them.
It's okay.
Um the other one, and I don't I'm confused about Dave's, but I read the material.
Sorry.
In the one of the media reports, the story alleges that I think on serving the warrant, about a dozen officers entered weapons drawn.
Is that correct?
There was a there was a dozen officers.
I don't remember weapons drawn.
Okay.
And but y'all have body cam footage of the incident, right?
Yes, sir.
Okay.
The reason we took so many officers.
There's a lot of guns in the store to go through.
The more officers we take, the quicker we can get this done, and Mr.
Wakefield can reopen this business.
Thank you.
Yes, sir.
At this point, the city will call uh Chief Brent blankly.
No, Chief, you participated in the execution of that search warrant, is that right?
Yes, sir.
I did.
Okay.
Um now would you speak also to the number of people there?
Yes, sir.
We have a lot to do.
Um safety is our number one concern, so we do take a lot of officers, whether it's a business or a residence.
Um we also had multiple officers with laptops running um multiple guns.
You had a ballistics expert there.
We had cyber for the cameras, we had photo uh photographers, we had supervisors.
It is a big effort to run a search warrant to run it right.
Okay.
So having as many officers as you had minimizes the amount of time you're there as well as um maximizes officer safety.
Yes, sir.
I believe we probably had that cleared around two hours, two and a half hours, if I had to guess.
Um, if we only took four officers, we may have been there eight hours to run all those weapons.
Okay.
When you were there executing that search warrant, did you contact uh Mr.
Wakefield?
Um originally I had the manager, Mr.
Rex Pickett um asked him to contact his boss and have him come down.
Um he handed me his phone.
I couldn't talk to Mr.
Wakefield because there was a lot of static um in the phone.
I think from our meeting we learned that he was riding a bicycle um during that time.
Um later on in that search warrant, I'd say probably an hour into I can I can't remember if he said 40 minutes for you and a dozen or so officers are executing a warrant at his business, and his response is to ask whether he has to come.
Yes, sir.
For him until you gave up on waiting for him.
Yes, we were done with our business.
We didn't want to hold up his business any longer.
Um we we were done, so we left at that point.
Do you have an opinion about whether his license should be revoked?
Yes, sir.
I have a strong opinion.
Um the fact that he bought or his employee under his direction, because he owns a shop, bought a firearm from a convicted felon that they knew they were told five days earlier that he was convicted felon is concerning and alarming.
And not only that, they bought a stolen weapon from him.
They knew it was stolen.
They know he is supplying stolen weapons, no doubt about it.
He was not flagged in their system not to buy, they purchased.
The second is those officers and FBI agents were there on official duty.
There was no doubt about that.
They were off not they weren't off duty trying to buy weapons.
They stated their reason to be there and he tried to trespass them.
That is deliberately interfering with a law enforcement investigation, a very serious one at that.
And then the third and final reason, that's not bad bookkeeping.
One or two um violations of city code, maybe bad cook bad bookkeeping.
Twenty violations is not.
And he has a repeated history, even a letter from the attorney general's office telling him he has to comply with city ordinances.
He is choosing not to comply with those ordinances.
Has nothing to do with bad bookkeeping.
So I don't understand how the council cannot revoke his business license.
It is a public safety nuisance, and unfortunately, I believe his business license needs to go.
Thank you.
Thank you.
That's all I have.
Thank you.
Mr.
Swords or Mr.
Wakefield, we turn it over to you.
Your time will begin once you get to the podium.
May I please the mayor, city council.
My name's Josh Swords.
I'm an attorney here in Tuscous, Alabama.
This is my uh first time before the mayor and the city council, so thank you for having me.
Um I believe I want to talk of stories and facts.
I think since this case first happened, and then the city attorney brought this resolution before the council.
There's been a lot of stories, but not much facts.
The uh the fact is is Mr.
Wakefield has operated guns and ammo here in the city of Tuscaloosa for 13 years.
He's been a great uh business to have.
There's a lot of folks here in Tuscaloosa, the city of Tuscaloosa that I know, lawyers, doctors, professionals, common folks, teachers, even law enforcement who shop at his shop.
He's got a great business.
He's got a great business you can come in, get to know folks, put your hands on guns, feel the guns that you want to buy, not just look at them behind a case.
They bring up an instance in 2019, I believe, to try to show that this business that's been here for 13 years is a bad business.
That's over six years ago.
We've had no instances in six years since that 2019.
They have to reach back all the way to 2019 to try to show a reason this business should be deemed a nuisance, to try to show a reason this business should be uh deemed dangerous for some for public safety.
Guns are an important issue.
You know, I take it very seriously.
I'm a gun owner, I hunt, I go out and recreational shoot, but it's a it's a serious, serious issue here in not only uh city of Tuscaloosa, not only State of Alabama, but for the United States of America.
And it's missing this very serious to Josh Wakefield, and that's why he's been able to operate this business with little or no interactions with any wrongdoing or or uh or findings of any wrongdoing for 13 years, six years with with no incidence whatsoever.
And we don't even talk about how he's helped law enforcement.
He gets calls from ATF all the time asking for help on tracing down um firearms and things of that nature.
We've never had an issue there.
Another thing that's a fact is prior to August 4th of 2025, Mr.
Wakefield and his employees at Guns and Ammo and all really uh businesses that buy uh firearms had no way, no legal way to check if someone has a criminal history.
They have no legal way to identify whether a gun coming in is a stolen firearm.
They don't have that ability.
That ability is up to the Tuscaloosa police department, and that's the whole reason we have leads online or a 10-day hold.
Because he has no ability to check those things the city attorney brings forth as far as someone's background or being a convicted felon or have or bringing in a gun that was stolen.
He had no ability.
That was why it relies on the Tuscaloosa police department.
And Mr.
Wakefield as a business here in Tuscaloosa has accompanied them and helped them over the years, probably solved so many crimes or locate so many people.
But it wasn't until this day, August 7th, when investigator Kervin came in, not announcing I'm coming by your business.
It was the third time he's come in in 12 days, and for some reason, Mr.
Wakefield's employee Rex, who's a Navy veteran with a PTSD dog, tried to have to curve and trespass.
And I think y'all saw in the video, I think Kerb even laughed.
I think Rex laughed.
I think it was almost comical, even though not to me, because I understand the law.
Rex isn't a lawyer.
And I know Investigator Kervin and any other city official has the right to be there.
But I think as you saw, what the city really didn't show is after two minutes of uh being trespassed, Kervin and investigator Hubbard stay there 45 minutes investigating guns.
Rex helping him complete that investigation.
And that's what Mr.
Wakefield's done the whole time.
But again, I think the city attorney is bringing nothing but stories.
And I'm excited to present Josh Wakefield to present the facts.
And I'll turn the podium over to him.
We are the only gun store in Tuscaloosa that exclusively buys, sells, and trades guns.
We're not a pawn shop.
We're the only Glock blue label dealer within 40 miles of Tuscaloosa.
The next closest one would be Simmons Sporting Goods and Bessmer.
We offer big discounts to people that served the community, police, firefighters, military, veterans, judges, paramedics.
Started the business in Double Springs, town I grew up in back in uh July of 2007.
Sold my first gun July 18, 2007, and about five years later, moved the store to Tuscaloosa.
And last week we were on Forum 4257, so we've sold over 43,000 guns in the 18 years that I've been in business.
Some of the the forms have more than one firearm on them.
Our sales uh in Tuscaloosa uh the last 12 years have been 8,829,215.
We paid the city and county of Tuscaloosa over 240,000 in sales tax.
I just want to talk a little bit about uh buying and selling guns.
Uh there's different rules.
Uh so when we sell a gun to a person, we uh do a background check uh through the FBI website uh or the customer can show us a pistol permit in order to get a pistol permit.
The sheriff's department does a background check.
So that's the two different things, two different ways you can go about buying a gun from us.
But it's it's a lot different uh when we're buying guns from individuals.
There's no database uh or list that we can look up to check the the background of the person that we're buying from.
Uh the city of Tuscaloosa uh requires us to take a picture of the person holding the gun they're selling and upload their name, address, information about the the gun, make model serial number, caliber to a third party.
Uh it's a business out in Plano, Texas called Leeds Online.
And the standard procedure, we always take uh people's pictures holding the gun, copy their driver's license.
And it wasn't until uh this bipartisan safer communities act of 2022 that allowed us to check to see if a gun is stolen, and that was only effective August 4th.
So effective August 4th, uh firearms dealers nationwide can now query the NCIC database to see if uh a gun is stolen.
So as of August 4th, uh we can now check to see if the gun is stolen that the person is selling us.
But before August 4th, we had no way of checking to see if the gun was stolen, you know, immediately.
We had to report the gun information to the leads online and you know, wait 10 days, and if if it was stolen, leads online would contact uh the city of Tuscaloosa, let them know, and then an officer would come by and take the gun from us.
Uh they they showed the the trespass video earlier, so I had I was gonna show that.
I'm gonna uh skip the trespass video.
Um the the reason uh was just trespassing Kerbin, not the FBI agent with him.
And the reason is the way that Kerbin has treated me the last six years.
Uh in the 18 years I've been in business, there's only been one police officer that's threatened me in any way.
It's been Jeffrey Kervin.
Um I was at uh the pool with the at the time uh with one of my friends that was visiting uh from California is in the pool with him and his three kids and didn't even know he was up there.
Uh they left the store about 208, and about an hour or 20 minutes later, he had a search warrant.
I was not given any time to give Kervin the video he was requesting.
And I did uh try calling him and I recorded my phone call to him at 552, just uh less than four hours after he left guns and ammo.
I called his phone number and left him a voicemail to call me back so I could try to figure out what video he was wanting.
This is the trespass scene that's already been shown.
I'm gonna skip that.
And then uh while he was there uh after the trespass, we was uh Rex was cooperative with them, show them the gun.
They were stopping by to see they took pictures of the gun.
They didn't take the gun because it had not been reported to stolen.
They knew a convicted felon had sold it to us, but since the gun was not stolen, they didn't take it with them.
They did they didn't get it the next day.
Uh this is uh a short clip of showing Rex uh bringing out the gun and showing Kerbin the gun.
He asked to see what else for you like showed him the the gun and now they're gonna ask for the video footage.
Our video footage is stored in the cloud.
Uh we don't actually have the video footage at the store.
I think I believe Mr.
Kirvin thinks we have a DVR at the store, and Rex is just refusing to show it to him, but Rex is fixing to tell him that he doesn't have access to it.
I'm the only person that can log into our cloud storage and and create videos, and uh Rex is going to tell them he doesn't have access to the video system, and that they're gonna have to talk with Josh about that.
Video video.
Oh, you like the feeling cameras at face outside that we can review.
We got outside and inside, I think.
I'll summon the main name looking for us if I get a car.
I think don't have search.
But uh, you can tell Josh we're asking nicely when we come back, it'll be with a search warrant, and it's not gonna be nice.
So I mean I'm not here for him, I'm here for the felon that keeps selling guns to him.
So I don't know what his problem is with us.
I'll call see if I let you.
Uh clip in a minute of me calling Kervin, leaving him a voicemail trying to clarify what uh video he is needing.
This is the contact information I have on Kervin.
I call his cell phone number 552.
It's August 7th, 2025, 552 p.m.
Calling Jeffrey Kerbin, phone number 205-826-2965.
Your call has been forwarded to voicemail.
The person you're trying to reach is not available at the tone.
Please record your message.
When you have finished recording, you may hang up.
Hey, it's Josh Wakefield trying to get in touch with Jeff Kerbin.
Give me a call at 205-272-2231.
All right, Mr.
Kervin never called me back.
Uh finally figured out uh by going back and reviewing the video footage of what uh firearm and person he was wanting information on.
I saved the video and emailed it to him less than 24 hours after he requested it.
This is a copy of the search warrant that he went and got an hour and 20 minutes after he left our store on Thursday, August 7th.
And the purpose of the search warrant is to uh search for and seize any firearms or firearm components that are or have been reported stolen.
We did not have any stolen guns at our business.
This is uh the search warrant application that he uh had to get the application for the search warrant.
And then the next day, about 9 15, uh they showed up with about 25 police officers to do a search warrant.
Hey, is that dog?
I got him.
I got it.
He's a service on the colour.
Hold on.
Come on.
Come on, Brother.
Come on, buddy.
Come on.
Stay right here.
Yeah, you got a gun on this here or come around front.
Come on, Bruce.
After they completed the search warrant, they took uh 28 of our firearms, none of which was reported stolen.
They took uh 26 of our guns because we did not upload a picture of the person holding the gun.
We had reported the person's name, their address, the gun information, the mate, model, serial number, caliber.
We'd reported everything except uploading the picture.
That was uh just a clerical error on our part, not uploading the picture.
Uh but it was standard procedure for us to take pictures and a few days after the search warrant, I found pictures and uploaded it to the site.
So the pictures are on the leads online now.
Uh they took five of our guns saying that we sold them before the 10 days, but we had the guns in the store in our safe.
They took the five guns and arrested Rex for failing to hold guns ten days before selling them.
And they took the guns.
Uh the two guns on the bottom they took were uh two guns that uh Christopher Collins had sold us.
Uh the first one there, the HKMP five, uh, was a gun that we showed them when they visited our store on uh July 28th.
We showed them that gun, they took pictures of it and uh went back and reviewed the video.
The reason they didn't take that gun because they would have had to do uh more paperwork.
Uh and then the one on the bottom is uh the one that they had looked at the previous day, took pictures of, and then they took it on the search warrant day.
Uh I've got some video footage of uh the chief of police blankly going around uh unplugging our video cameras or telling other officers to unplug them.
I'd like to show that.
What number was it?
Number 175 wasn't what you said yesterday.
165 wasn't that on my camera.
I'll look it up.
Zero there five.
Now they can't keep on the case.
There's another way.
So we can look at one that had one more.
Yeah, the one in the back.
Yeah.
Jason Right.
Yes.
Okay, guys.
Camera seat.
So this camera.
Also that's into outlets.
Zero one eight.
This one.
Yeah.
Uh then Rex was arrested for five counts, uh, violating section seven one sixty three purchased uh to be retained for ten days.
We had all five guns in our safe.
We were holding the guns the ten days.
They seized the guns and arrested Rex, took him to jail.
Uh there's a a picture of our safe over on the right, is where we keep our guns that we're holding for ten days.
They took five of the guns in that area and took Rex to jail for not holding the guns for ten days.
This is uh Rex being arrested.
Video is showing outside the audio inside the building.
You can hear officers making wrecks without getting reps by load.
Are you getting these?
I never saw that on the I saw the logo years ago.
We were all in the ship control, you know.
I watched it on my goddamn back.
And later that evening they came to my house, arrested me.
Twenty-one counts of not uploading a picture of a person holding a gun, five counts of selling a gun before ten days.
And again, they they took the guns with them.
We had the guns in the safe.
And then later that evening they went and wrecked arrested Rex for the second time and charged him with the 21 counts of not uploading a picture of the person holding the gun.
And just want to show the purpose of the search warrant again was to uh search for or seize any firearms that were stolen, and we did not have any stolen firearms.
They took 28 of our guns that we paid like $8,000 for, and none of them had been reported stolen.
That's all I had.
Facts.
That's the facts.
Recorded, listed, audio.
And by the way, I moved your mayor.
Sorry, Your Honor, uh, to introduce our presentation.
Absolutely.
Thank you.
That's what it's all about.
Not a gun law, not a misdemeanor, not a felony, not a violation of any state law.
23 arrests for two men, a 20-something man search warrant because of the 10-day hold, alleging the 10-day hold violations when they found the guns in the safe.
How can you be violating a 10-day hold when you're holding the guns?
Still haven't figured that one out.
And uploading the pictures.
And I brought the pictures, right?
I'm not going to introduce them.
But these are the actual pictures that we had at the business that they charged him with.
Why?
Because they weren't uploaded.
Why?
Because his employees didn't know how to upload them, and he was at the beach.
We had them.
We took them.
We complied.
But they weren't uploaded because people didn't know how to load.
What was the city?
What's the Tuscaloosa police response to that?
Arrest them.
Arrest them for not uploading the pictures that they had.
Ladies and gentlemen, I told you that Mr.
Wakefield has operated a fantastic business here in Tuscaloosa for 13 years.
He has had one incident not uh six years ago and hasn't had an incident then.
You saw where he's brought in over almost quarter million dollars of tax profit to the city.
He's operated within the realms that he's required to do.
Please do not get confused.
His obligations when he is buying a gun is not to have he can't do a background check.
He's unable to do it.
That's why it's the responsibility of the Tuscaloosa police department to check leads and come in.
Mr.
Wakefield complied with that law.
Again, he had no way to check, it's check to the see if a gun is stolen.
He has no way, no legal way.
Again, that's the Tuscaloosa police department.
If the city city attorney's office has a problem with Josh Wakefield operating within the realms and not be able to see or know when a sell a stolen firearm comes in, they need to look to their own police department because they are the watchdogs for that, not Mr.
Wakefield.
Um I'm sad.
I am sad as a business owner.
I'm sad as a person here in Tuscaloosa that a person who has tried to comply, and as a good person, you hear he doesn't talk like me.
He's soft spoken.
But he had the videos.
He even tried to call.
You know, when when Colvin left, and you heard it, I hope you heard it on there.
He said we can do this the easy way or the hard way or the mean way.
And that's what they did.
They didn't get their video on time.
Even though Mr.
Wakefield tried to call investigator Kervin, 542 on August 7th before they issued that search warrant.
Kervin didn't take the call.
That all could have been happening there, but he didn't answer the call.
And Josh Wakefield even got the video to them by one o'clock the next day.
The exact video they requested without Josh Wakefield being there.
But what was the response of the Tuscaloosa police department?
You kick the front door in with their weapons out, get your hands up.
And this wasn't conducting a criminal investigation on guns and animo.
Please don't get confused with that.
This was a business operating as it should operate, helping law enforcement.
And because they didn't help law enforcement fast enough, the response by law enforcement was to kick the front door in.
And I think that's wrong.
I'm not here to argue that.
He's complied.
He tried to call Kervin to get him everything he needed.
I it's kind of, you know, the trespassing issue is kind of funny.
You know, they laugh about it, but then they spend 30 minutes with Rex getting the guns, complying and helping them with the investigation.
Does that sound right?
Resistance?
I think not.
Does that re need that that sound like it needed a search warrant to get what they needed?
I think not.
Any questions?
I'm sorry, I took too much time.
Yes.
George, you said they kicked the door open with guns drawn.
I didn't see that.
Me either.
Term of art, Your Honor.
I mean, I saw it draw weapons when they went to the wheel.
They came in the back room, which is understandable.
Yes, sir.
Did I see the wrong film?
No, sir.
But I think what you will see is when you see investigator Kervin and investigator hovered in there in plain clothes, it's more of a relaxed atmosphere.
It's very came in that morning.
They had their their vest on, bulletproof vest, obviously a show of seriousness, and even at some point said get your hands up and had a gun out.
I don't understand.
I think it is about how it did it when you say that they came and kicked the door in, the guns drawn.
And um, I didn't see anyone draw a gun until the officer walked to the bag till room that he couldn't see around.
That's what customary that's when the gun came out.
But I I didn't see anyone else draw their guns.
And I didn't see anyone kick the door.
And I agree with you.
It wasn't until it cleared the back.
What uh I'm sorry.
I I'd like to hear an explanation if we could as to why they purchased the gun from the convicted felon after they were told he was a convicted felon.
There's multiple employees there, they don't keep a list there.
And remember, you know, Rex is a Navy veteran, and maybe sometimes I don't know what his mental capabilities are.
Shouldn't should they not keep a list?
Well, if the police come and warn them of something, I I would think that he was if it's and I don't know if he didn't tell them.
I'm gonna take the word as the best, but remember it's not their obligation to keep that list.
They have no way.
Would it be a great idea?
Absolutely.
I think it would be I think it would have been beneficial for him to inform all of his employees that a convicted felon has come in multiple times to sell a gun.
And I think they don't need to receive that's nothing that property from him.
No problem.
And I think that'd be a great practice moving forward.
Just remember, in complying with the ordinance and the law, there's no requirement on that.
But I'm not saying that's not a great idea.
Any other questions?
I have one, and it may be for legal, I don't know.
We've talked about buying a firearm from a felon being a crime.
Are all felons treated the same in that respect?
Or only felons.
I mean, is it illegal for a felon to be in possession of a firearm or only for violent felons?
I don't know the answer.
There are certain uh in under Alabama State.
Because he was not convicted of a violent.
Yes, sir.
He's convicted of a class A felony is the same as murder.
It was under Alabama law, the statute is called certain persons forbidden, and it sets out charges that forbid someone from from having that gun.
I don't know what all those charges are.
There are other charges or other category offenses under federal law.
Okay, he was definitely not able to legally be in possession of a file.
Yes, sir.
There is no question that that individual could not legally put that right.
Any other questions for uh Mr.
Swords?
Yes, um, I don't know if I saw it on this this short list of timelines of relevant events, but um guns and ammo was stating that there were no stolen guns, that they were holding the guns for 10 days.
There were no stolen guns sold during that time that had been reported stolen.
Was that correct?
I couldn't hear you, I'm sorry.
Could you repeat Ms.
Howard?
So guns and ammo was saying that at the time that the police came in to do the search warrant, that there were no stolen guns that had been sold.
They were holding all the guns for 10 days.
It was two there's two different issues with the the first issue regards the 10-day hold requirement of the city ordinance.
Remember, this is a second-hand goods ordinance that we're dealing with, not necessarily guns, but it's because that's the guns we're dealing with.
There's a 10-day requirement that you hold that gun.
That gun can has when it comes in and you buy that gun, that gun has to remain on that premises for 10 days before it can be sold.
And they charge them even though the guns were still found in the safe.
And that's going to be something obviously discussed within the municipal.
Any other questions, Ms.
Howard?
I would say just and you had a second question.
I don't know how how or why, or what reasoning they did a search warrant for stolen guns, because they were not part of any investigation.
But all the guns they found in there, none of them, to my knowledge, were reported stolen.
They were all due back to be returned to the business, which is what we want.
And the council will have an opportunity following the public hearing as well to ask more questions of the city attorney's office or Mr.
Swords and Mr.
Waitfield.
Thank you.
Any Mr.
Swords, you have one minute and 24 seconds.
Would you would you like to exercise that?
And I I would briefly, unless the council has any other questions.
Um please just tonight is a night about whether or not Josh Wakefield has tried to operate his business within the parameters of the ordinance passed by the city.
As you heard him try to comply, officers came in and do their investigation.
He tried to even call them afterwards to give them the information they needed after hours.
And then even the next day he complied and sent them the stuff they needed to help their investigation.
It's not his investigation, it's their investigation.
But as you can hear in the facts.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Council will reconvene at 64.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
The city council is now reconvened for the public hearing.
At this time, we would like to hear from the public.
Each member of the public will be provided two minutes to address the city council.
I want to also ask the clerk just briefly to report to the council the comments that we did receive online.
Council, you guys received 12 written public comments.
Thank you.
So at this time, members of the public, please come forward.
And remember to give your name and address.
Yes, sir.
My name's Michael Ledbetter.
I live at uh 710 55th Avenue East Summerfield.
I'm uh been a business owner in Tuscaloosa for over 26 years on Bonner Body Shop.
We uh recently sold it when we sold it.
Since I had been buying guns and transferring them in to Josh for over uh four years or so.
Asked him, I said, hey, I'm gonna send my retirement.
Can you need any help?
He said, yes, sir, come on to work.
Well, now I can tell you from buying them from him and from working there.
That man's a stickler for the fine details of what we're supposed to do.
And uh we we stick to it.
People make mistakes, we all make mistakes.
I guarantee you every one of y'all have.
Uh the police department has, everybody has.
But he he wants everything done right.
I can assure you of that.
But that's about all I have to say.
He's a good man, he's an honest businessman, and I think it'd be a crying shame to take his license away from it.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you.
I'm Rex Pike.
Mayor, members.
I'm not the manager of guns and MO.
I'm actually a part-time employee like the rest of them.
I've never had a 40-hour chat there.
I've never worked over 40 hours and received overtime.
I've been with Josh about three years.
And he said, I'm a highly decorated old veteran.
I've got a service dog, I've been shot up, I've served my country, I'm highly highly decorated and honorably discharged.
I serve him the same way I do this city.
Josh only asked one thing for me in three years up there.
Do it right.
Do it honorable.
It's the only thing he's asked out of me and Bruiser, my service dog, in three years up there.
All he cared about was getting the paperwork right.
All he cared about.
And I'm not, he had to teach me.
I mean, I I didn't I've never sold guns up there.
I've never sold guns anywhere.
I made a I pretended our country with them, but I didn't know how to sell them.
He taught me that.
Just like the leads.
I realized we made some clerical errors there on uploading the pictures.
But do you know every one of those forms?
He's got a copy of the ID, which is a color photo.
And the the day that Mr.
Kervin was after choice pass, I did ask choice passing.
And I did cooperate afterward.
And he and Josh have a problem outside that building.
And it stems from legalities outside that building.
And that's why Josh wanted him to us pass.
He ain't been good to Josh.
That man's been ugly to Josh.
I'm not the manager there.
He tried to get me to admit to being the manager there.
I'm part-time.
He brought me inside before he arrested me and asked me if I understood why I was being arrested.
And I answered to him because I made you mad yesterday.
And Officer Kirvin told me yes.
And that's, I mean, you lie detected me.
That's true.
The reason they unplugged him cameras weren't from serial number.
Sir, two minutes.
Oh, I'm sorry.
They threw the guns at the time.
Thank you.
Thank you, sir.
Council.
My name is Chris Moah.
I run a small insurance agency.
I'm nationwide, but I have an office here in downtown Tuscaloosa, 2315 Ninth Street.
Um, I've been here since about 2015, 2014, got married in 2015 and decided to stick around.
Uh I've known Josh Wakefield since about that time when I started uh patronizing the gun store.
Um I bought countless firearms, traded with him.
Um, and in the last couple of years, because of common interest, I've gotten to know Josh Wakefield personally.
That business is part of the good things about Tuscaloosa.
And if we shut that business down, we've got a big problem.
And that man is one of the straightest arrows you have ever met in this world.
And I would attest to that.
So I wouldn't shut this business down.
That's a good man and it's a good business.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Council Mayor.
I'm Justin Williams, uh 8028, Keynesmill Road, Cottendale.
Uh known Josh since he opened his store in 2012.
Uh right after this happened, I asked Josh, I said, Hey, I'm 42 years old.
I've never been arrested.
What about you, Josh?
What'd you say?
Never been arrested.
I I don't see how he's in the wrong when he's never been to jail ever.
You know, he's made it 40 something years.
Good guy is what I'm trying to say.
He's a good guy.
Uh I've become friends with him.
Uh never had a problem.
So I've been in the store, spent lots of time there, lots of time in the store.
Um, never seen anything wrong out of the ordinary.
Uh I will say he has turned business away thinking it was a straw sale, thinking it was somebody buying a gun for somebody else.
Y'all familiar with what a straw sale is.
So I uh that right there shows you he's trying to keep guns out of the wrong people's hands.
So um that's all I gotta say.
He's a good guy.
Thank you.
Anyone else we should address city council?
Yes, sir.
My name is Derek Collins, and I don't know Mr.
Josh, but I have sat here and listened to this whole thing and I wrote some up.
This gun store has been part of our community for 13 years, and for the last six years, it has operated without a single incident.
That track record matters.
A business with that kind of history deserves fabulous, not harassment.
And I think when he went in there and did what he was doing, that was harassment.
Yes, there are concerns about one firearm purchase involving a convicted felon.
That issue belongs in court, not here.
It should be not it should not be used as a blanket reason to revoke a license that this business has earned and maintained responsibility for over a decade.
What troubles what troubles we we mean most is the way this has been handled.
We've seen dispatch costs that look like more like a show of power, cameras being moved instead of preserved, and testimony that doesn't sound right to me.
That isn't transparent enforcement, that's antagonizing.
And as for the so-called 10-day hole, it simply doesn't apply here.
Those firearms were already being held.
You can't punish someone twice for the same action.
That's not a safety, it's about pressure.
If the license is revoked under these circumstances, it's in a message that any long-standing business in Tuscaloosa can be pushed out, not because of proof of wrongdoing, but because of intimidation.
That is not justice, and this is not accountability.
This store has been proving itself for over a decade.
If there's a crime, let it be handled in the courts.
But the city council should not become a weapon of intimidation for that reason.
I strongly urge you not to revoke this license.
Thank y'all.
Thank you.
My name is Chris Times.
I live in Cottendale, 15092 Clements Road.
Uh known Josh since they opened the store over there in I guess 2017 when you guys uh posted up there.
But I just wanted to say that he's always treated me fairly.
He's always treated everyone that I've seen in there doing business fairly.
He's has treated my family good, made us feel welcome.
I've always felt safe in there, and he has fair deals.
This man does things fairly in every manner that I'm aware of.
And it just it's appalling to me that these charges have been pressed on him.
I don't understand it, I don't agree with it.
Um that's all I have to say.
Thank you.
Anyone else wish to address city council?
Thank you, Mayor.
Thank you.
Um Jam and Fannon, live on North Side Road, Northport.
Um I've known Josh about 40, over 40 years.
Grew up on the same street with Josh.
Went to elementary school with Josh, high school.
I've worked to own an off that his gun store since 2014.
I wouldn't come up here if I didn't feel very strongly about Josh because I'm not very good at public speaking.
So I can all tell I'm very nervous.
But I've never known a man that is more honest and by the book than this guy.
I've always said it.
Very good business person, smart, and by the book.
I've never seen anything off and on the last 10 years that would negate that fact to me.
Just honestly, this is all kind of absurd to me that we're even here today because I've never met a man, businessman that is more honest than this guy.
By the book, even kill straight laced.
Thanks.
Thank you.
Anyone else wish to address City Council?
City Council.
Mayor.
My name is Travis Hallman.
I live at 5804 15th Street East Condale, Alabama.
I am a current employee of Guns and Ammo.
I have been employed there for over a year.
And I was a customer there for at least three to four years prior to that.
I started my employment with Mr.
Josh last September after I got back from Dillingham, Alaska, working the salmon season.
And he graciously gave me the job.
He taught me how we're supposed to operate.
And since then I have asked him a thousand and something questions, trying to make sure that I'm doing everything that I need to to make sure he doesn't get in trouble and we do things by the book.
He is taught, taught me how to do everything that we need to, and he has told me on multiple occasions.
If we're doing a sale for somebody and something seems off, don't go through with it.
But he is extremely, extremely smart man.
He's done everything right by his customers and by his employees.
Mistakes were made in the past, but I feel like you know that was a hard lesson learned.
It should not represent how we operate our business today.
And it hasn't been a lot of he said she said, but when the facts are laid out, we we've done what we could.
We willingly comply with the ATF, we're in a good standing with them.
And one of our customers is a U.S.
Marshal.
I spoke to him, let him know what everything was going on with his first question.
Are you guys good with the ATF?
I said yes.
He said this shouldn't be the issue.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Anyone else wish to address city council?
Good evening, it's kind of caught me off guard.
I wouldn't know I was going to come up here.
I live down in Ralph, Alabama, and I've known Josh probably since about 2012.
I'm affiliated with a group called Bama Carey.
We deal with a lot of filearms.
We have majority of our prizes that we give away goes through Josh.
And we get writers' cramp filling out 4473 forms down there.
And he's actually donated firearms.
We still have to fill out the 4473 forms, even as president.
All I can say is I've known Josh outside of guns and ammo.
I've gone flying with him, spend time with them.
My grandson has special needs.
Has that been years ago?
And I started the mayor a true friendship.
And to me, he is an outstanding citizen.
Appreciate it.
Thank you.
Anyone else wish to address the council?
Councilman.
Mayor.
My name is Karen Wakefield.
I live at 1826, 37th Street, Northeast, Tuscaloosa.
And I've known Josh all his life.
And I just like to say he's never been arrested, and I know that he treats people respectfully.
I've been in the store and I've seen how he treats his customers.
So thank you.
Thank you.
Anyone else wish to address city council?
I'm the dad.
We've all had our issues, whether it be from a sideways spit when you're in the computer store that nobody ever sees because the cameras are unhooked, or whether it's a lot of these guns that they had, throwing them over here in a pile, scratching them up because they don't give a crap about them.
Or Zig Ziglar always said it's helping others that you help yourself.
You do that other side to Josh.
Josh is took little kids, you know, birthday parties, take them up flying, just to be an extra good in a lot of different situations, and talk mean start to the community, you know.
That's a furtherest thing.
Josh, it's gonna be a straight lace if anyone else in here.
I'm just telling you that's just a fact.
But I just appreciate you vote.
Thank you.
Anyone else?
Yes, sir.
Member of the council and mayor, certainly these police officers, y'all had the hardest job in the world.
My name is Ronald Lewis.
I'm a United States Naval Officer, defended this country for 43 years.
I've known Josh and his family for 14 years.
You have to judge this man's character and decide difficult questions right here.
This fellow right here knows constitutional law more than I'll ever know.
I can tell you that just by his statements and looking at him.
Um I'm not a lawyer, but I I know what the Constitution says.
On 14 occasions, I've renewed an oath to defend it with my life.
I asked each of you guys, judge this man's character, not by what you're seeing right here.
Jump on Facebook, take a look at Josh.
Look at his children, his wife, his mom and dad right out here.
You are affecting the livelihood of an American citizen that has the right for a trial, he's not violated and been convicted of a crime.
If that happens, then take the right actions in.
Give this man the benefit of the doubt.
We should be presuming innocence.
We presume these guys are doing their job right, and all of us earn that as American citizens to have a presumption of innocence.
You guys get to affect his livelihood and his family before that day in court comes for him.
Please honor your oath and uh and and vote your conscience.
Do what you think is right for our country.
That's all I have.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Anyone else wish to address city council tonight?
Anyone else before we close the public hearing?
Yes, sir.
My name's Forrest Fitz.
Uh lived here and worked in Tuscaloosa all my life.
I live in Bolognae now.
I met Josh about five years ago.
Um I've never bought a firearm from him, never sold a firearm to him.
Uh, but I do think I have a feel for him as a man, uh, trust him.
Uh I think he's honest.
Um I know him to be very attentive to detail, and I consider him to be uh trustworthy.
Um and if my understanding is correct, the council is considering uh whether or not he should be allowed to have a business license.
I just would ask that you all consider that that's uh a very serious matter, and I don't know that what I've heard this evening is um reaches that level.
Um you're talking about someone's livelihood, so I would ask you to consider that carefully before you make a decision to take a man's license to do business.
Thank you.
Anyone else before we close the public hearing?
Yes, sir.
Thank you, Mr.
Mayor, City Council, police officers that are here appreciate what you do for our community.
I'm speaking on behalf of Josh.
I've known him for about 10 years.
My name is Owen Skinner.
Live at 1512, Heritage Drive, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
I was a banker here for about 20 years, but I also spent 26 years serving our country in the U.S.
military around firearms.
I know the danger of them.
I know how you have to be careful with them, but I know this man personally.
Please, please consider the decision that you're about to make affecting this man's livelihood and what he has meant to this community and the revenues that he's provided to the city.
Um let him stay in business.
I thank you for your time.
Thank you, Mr.
Skinner.
Anyone else wish to address their city council tonight?
At this point, then I will close the public hearing.
This is the opportunity for the council to ask any questions, both of uh Mr.
Wakefield, Mr.
Swords, or the city attorney.
Um I have a question.
Uh I don't understand.
Could someone explain to me uh the the part about the guns that apparently were there, but he's being charged with not holding them for 10 days?
I I don't understand that.
Yes, sir.
So uh Mr.
Wakefield received 26 citations in municipal court.
Uh 21 of those citations pertain to uh record keeping, and that was the uploading the pictures on time as required by the code.
The other five are the ones that you're talking about that say when you buy a second hand good um you you uh for resale, you can't sell it off for uh you've got to hold it for at least 10 days.
Now, the the policy behind this is that it would give um people time to report something stolen if it was in fact stolen um uh it comes down to an argument about sale, really, um, with with regard to those those five charges.
But they were in the stores they were still in the store, yes, sir.
Okay, Mr.
Swords, do you have anything to add to that or sense of fairness?
Make certain you have an opportunity.
No, they were any other questions of Mr.
Swords or the city attorney.
I I guess I have one more question.
Um I understand it didn't upload pictures, but did he have the pictures?
I mean, did he have I mean he they showed us some pictures?
Did he have us?
Did he have the pictures?
No, they were I I haven't broken down for the 21.
Some of those pictures they did seem to have and had not been uploaded.
Some of them it appears were security camera um screenshots for lack of a better word that were I I don't know when they would have been taken.
Um I think that's the best I can do.
I I'd like giving Mr.
Swords or Mr.
Wakefield a chance.
Thank you, yes, sir.
We have the pictures of my standards because they were not up, but as the orders require you to have you holding the firearm, that person holds the firearm, and I'm sorry within that picture holding that firearm for all of the fire officers.
Obviously, that's something we're gonna hang on.
But yes, if you have to have an upload.
Any other questions?
Uh Mr.
Cheshire or Mr.
Swords, Mr.
Way.
Um to the city's attorney.
Can you expound or clarify the ordinance that Mr.
Wakefield said that he would not be complying with according to his attorney that submitted a letter to the city?
Yes, ma'am.
It's it's the whole um ordinance that that was sent out by Investigator King that's on um that that letter that's I believe on page 21 of the booklet.
Um it's the ordinance that's attached as if you'll give me a second, I can find it.
Ms.
Howard, it's it's exhibit a six in the table of contents.
Um that's it starts on page 15.
Any other questions of Mr.
Cheshire, Mr.
Swords, Mr.
Wade?
I I do, Mayor.
Um was there been any violations since the 2019 incident?
Besides the ones that are pending currently, no sir.
And also, was there any negotiations to try to um come up with maybe something, some type of maybe probation or something instead of um revoking the license altogether?
Mr.
Tyler, I can I can tell you we always try to avoid uh having these hearings that we we were unable to come to an agreement that we would allow us to avoid it.
Mr.
Swords, you have anything to add to that?
No, sir.
We we uh I believe your question was a question about the case that we've spoken.
Obviously, I know Mr.
Holm very well.
Mr.
Cheshar, it's a good spoken to try to come to away to offset that issue.
Yes, any other questions from the city?
Council.
Okay, at this point then that we are done with we are complete with the questions from the council.
We will now begin with each uh the city attorney's office will have five minutes, followed by Mr.
Swords, Mr.
Wakefield, five minutes, and then we will call for council comments and vote.
So Mr.
Cheshire, I'll turn it over to you.
Thank you, Mary.
When I got up here earlier, I um leveled three serious and specific allegations uh against Mr.
Wakefield that I think are are ultimately the basis for revoking his business license.
Um the first one I'll call his history.
We've had issues before in 2019, and by the way, we're not talking about a parking ticket.
We're talking about failure to keep records that causes somebody to wrongfully get arrested, charged with a felony, almost lose their job.
Um in August, um, and that's this is number two.
In August, they knowingly bought a gun from a convicted felon.
Uh, and then three, when TBD and FBI show back up again, they try to have them trespassed.
These are the three the three issues that I think underpin this case.
Um Mr.
Swords and Mr.
Wakefield tried to talk around those issues mostly.
Um and I'm you know I appreciate the uh comments from uh citizens and customers and and friends of Mr.
Wakefield that were very heartened.
Um but Mr.
Swords talked about stories in fact.
Um we've got friends who like uh Mr.
Wakefield, customers who have liked the business.
Um I've tried very, very hard to stay on um facts as specifically as I can.
Uh I would like to go through those facts again very briefly.
In 2018, um Mr.
Wakefield treated our municipal code like a joke.
It caused an innocent person to get arrested in 2019.
He got cited for it, and he said he didn't routinely apply uh uh follow it because he did not agree with it.
Last month um his business bought a used gun from a convicted felon.
Now, most of the conversation from from Mr.
Wakefield and Mr.
Swartz has been around well, how could we know?
There's no legal way to know that this was a convicted felon.
There is actually a legal way to know, which is law enforcement telling you this is a convicted felon.
Don't buy any more guns from it.
That's what happened.
Um it didn't work.
I've got this picture pulled up because I want to talk about stories and fact.
Um you know, a lot of the things that I talked about, I'm I I don't want them to get lost in abstraction.
Um I know very little about this individual.
I know that he was convicted of one of the most serious crimes that you can get convicted of.
He went into a private residence.
He pointed a gun at the inhabitants of that residence and demanded money from them.
This is the individual who did that.
And when he gets his hands on a gun, he knows exactly where to take it.
Um that's why I said at the beginning, I it's bad bookkeeping, but it's also a lot more than bad bookkeeping.
Um because if you're just a bad bookkeeper, common sense kicks in, right?
Well, we've bought four guns from this guy.
One of them was stolen.
We should probably be on the lookout for him five days later.
A guy that looks like the guy that's been selling us stolen guns comes back in.
Should I take a minute and just search our records, see if this is the same guy?
Take a second.
This is beyond bad bookkeeping.
I think this is beyond incompetence.
Um the trespass.
Mr.
Swords uh said, Well, I think Rex did that.
I I don't really know why he did that.
It's kind of a joke.
I, you know, it's not a big deal.
Um we heard from Mr.
Pigett.
Um, Mr.
Pigitt, I appreciate your service.
Um, and he was clear.
He tries to be a good employee and do what his owner is telling him.
His owner has got a beef with Investigator Kervin.
I have no idea what that is.
But the issue is investigator Kervin and an FBI agent came in to inspect a gun that was sold by a stolen felon.
And when they show up, Mr.
Pigett has received orders to have them trespass.
Mr.
Wakefield does not believe that the rule of law applies to him.
This is this is an issue about public safety.
Um, and that's why we're asking you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Mr.
Sword.
Members of the council, you've heard a lot of information tonight, because there is a lot of information.
And I hope which we presented, as I told you, are going to be the facts.
Fact is, Mr.
Wakefield hasn't been cited for any wrongdoing whatsoever here in the city of Tuscaloosa since 2019.
Before the council tonight, the only citations, the only allegations that they can bring against Mr.
Wakefield with his business at guns and ammo is is confusing.
Is the five guns that he's to hold for 10 days that were found in his business.
And then the um, I believe uh 21, or I can't remember the exact number of the photos that I brought with me tonight that he had in his possession that weren't uploaded.
Those are the violations.
No misdemeanors, no felonies, no gun laws.
Those are the those are the ordinance violations, the photo uploading of photos he had and guns, which he had on his premises is what's been brought by the Tuscosa police department and the revenue department before you to revoke his license, his business license, his livelihood.
No issues in six years.
And now we've got photo uploading and guns that are on the premises.
That's not enough to revoke his business license.
Again, like I told y'all, this is my first time before the city council.
I've been on the outside as a criminal defense lawyer.
I've seen crime.
I know what crime is.
I know what happens in apartment complexes and bars and behind bars and hookah lounges and and car lots and things of that nature.
I know what real crime is.
This isn't real crime.
No, sir.
This ain't this isn't public safety.
This isn't a nuisance.
I didn't hear anybody from the public come up and cry nuisance and cry public safety and guns and ammo's tearing our neighborhoods apart.
I heard the direct opposite.
Heard old people, I heard young people, I heard people of color, heard white people.
The community has come and spoken to the council.
I'm thankful for it.
I can do a lot of work as an attorney.
I've said as you may have heard, maybe maybe not in my interviews.
I can do a lot of things as a criminal attorney.
A lot of times I gotta manipulate things to make it sound so good to people.
But tonight was not that thing.
I brought facts.
Mr.
Wakefield brought facts.
We brought videos, we brought audios.
And so our evidence has been presented.
Our evidence shows that there is no way that guns and eminence, with the allegations brought by the city attorney by and through Tuscaloosa Police Department, rises to a level of being a public nuisance.
I mean, I'm sorry, a question of public safety and a question of nuisance in the city of Tuscaloosa.
I can brag all night long.
I know Josh Wakefield.
His kids play football with my kids at Northridge High School.
His wife works here at the vet at the VA.
They're great people.
This is the business we want.
He has no way to know about Chris Collins' background.
He can't pull it.
All he can do is what's required by him in the ordinance and upload the information into Leeds Online so that they can refute it, and if they see a violation of law, they can come check it out.
That's how they got to the store on Chris Collins.
Tuscaloosa Police Department executed a search warrant, supposedly under the guise of looking for a video that Josh Wakefield had submitted previously, or actually at the same time.
But here's my question to y'all.
Tuscosa Police Department went his business unannounced, a gun business, unannounced, and stayed three hours in that business going through every little thing.
Records, cameras, and guns.
And as you heard the city attorney and police chief talk, they had to use a lot of manpower to go through these guns to look for stolen guns.
And how many did they find?
Zero.
Zero manpower, hours going through guns, looking for legal guns.
Zero.
We can only hope a business in the city of Tuscaloosa that operates in the buying and selling guns, could have zero stolen firearms.
I don't know if another businessman checked, but I can tell you this.
Unannounced, three and a half hours, law enforcement going through your business is serious, serious deal.
And to come out there with zero stolen firearms is exactly the kind of business we want to operate and deal with firearms in the city of Tuscaloosa.
I ask you to wait tonight whether the actions of Mr.
Wakefield determined to his license be revoked.
And I say it doesn't.
And I say they have not presented any evidence that would show him to be a danger to our community.
And in fact, I think we've shown that he's a fine upstanding the kind of gun business we want around here where you can be checked and zero stolen firearms found.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
Swords.
At this time, it is um before I call a vote of the city council.
Do I are there any comments the council would like to make?
Seeing none, beginning a vote with Mr.
Eatman.
Mayor, for clarification, a yes vote is to revoke in a no vote.
Correct.
Yes.
Yes.
No.
No.
No.
No.
Okay, Mr.
Lanier is not here, so it's four votes, no, two votes, yes.
The revocation is denied.
Do I hear a motion to adjourn?
Okay.
Move the second to adjourn.
Voting, Mr.
Fail to adjourn.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Meetings adjourned.
Tuscaloosa City Council Meeting – September 30, 2025
The Tuscaloosa City Council convened on September 30, 2025, at 6:00 PM to conduct regular business and a public hearing on the proposed revocation of the business license of Guns and Ammo LLC. The meeting included the approval of several consent agenda items, routine resolutions, and a lengthy evidentiary hearing regarding allegations of code violations and public safety concerns. After hearing testimony from the city attorney, law enforcement, the licensee, and over a dozen public speakers, the council voted 4–2 against revocation, allowing the business to retain its license.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes – Unanimous approval of prior meeting minutes.
- Demolition Order – Ordered demolition of two trailers and accessory buildings at 881 Wiley Road due to 49 housing code violations; owner notified of cost backcharge.
- Restaurant Retail Liquor License – Approved for El Agave Mexican Bar and Grill (1800 McFarland Blvd E, Suite 430). Hours: 7 days a week, 11 AM–10 PM. No objections from police.
- Special Events Retail Licenses – Approved for Party Down LLC (Pi Kapp Phi formal) and the Alabama Wildlife Federation Wild Game Cook-Off (fundraiser).
- Public Works Contracts – Tentatively awarded to Price Civil Services Inc.; professional services agreements with CSL Services Inc.; real estate sales contract with Nelda P. Goldsmith; donations accepted by Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue.
- Professional Services & Minor Public Works – Contracts approved with Grow Marketing LLC, Freeman Sheet Metal Inc., Jacob Applied America Inc., Main Stage Theatrical Supply Inc., Meeks Environmental (as-needed FY2026).
- Joint Funding Agreements – Approved with USGS Water Resources Division for North River, Lake Tuscaloosa, and Cribbs Mill Creek.
- Tourism & Sports Commission – Funding agreement with Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission.
- FY2026 Budgets & Fund Reserves – Established General Fund reserve, Water & Sewer reserve, and Elevate Tuscaloosa fund budgets; authorized expenditure capability for facility renewal funds.
- Agency Funding Contracts – Authorized execution of FY2026 agency funding contracts.
- Opioid Settlement Funds – Appropriated funds to Freedom Farm Inc. and Phoenix House Inc. (one “no” vote on Freedom Farm).
- Pay Plan – Suspended step raises for FY2026 and amended Section 19‑42 exhibit D.
- Code Amendments – Amended Chapter 7 of the Tuscaloosa Code; amended Sections 16‑90 and 16‑156.
- FY2026 Budgets Adopted – General Fund, Water & Sewer Fund, and Elevate Tuscaloosa Fund all adopted.
- FY2025 Budget Amendment – Amendment No. 19 to the FY2025 General Fund budget adopted.
Public Comments & Testimony (Business License Revocation Hearing)
- 12 written public comments were received online (reported by clerk).
- Michael Ledbetter (710 55th Ave E, Summerfield) – Former business owner and employee: described Josh Wakefield as a “stickler for fine details” and honest businessman; urged council not to revoke license.
- Rex Piggott (part-time employee) – Denied being manager; stated Wakefield only asked for paperwork to be done correctly; claimed Investigator Kervin had a personal problem with Wakefield and that the arrest was retaliation for “making him mad.”
- Chris Moah (2315 9th St, Tuscaloosa) – Longtime customer and friend: called Wakefield “one of the straightest arrows” and said the business is part of what’s good about Tuscaloosa.
- Justin Williams (8028 Keynes Mill Rd, Cottondale) – Customer: noted Wakefield has never been arrested; described him as a good guy who turns away suspicious sales.
- Derek Collins (address not given) – Argued the business had a clean record for six years; called the police actions “harassment” and said the 10‑day hold charge was inapplicable because guns were being held; urged council not to become a “weapon of intimidation.”
- Chris Times (15092 Clements Rd, Cottondale) – Customer: treated fairly, felt safe; found charges appalling.
- Jamie Fannon (North Side Rd, Northport) – Childhood friend of Wakefield: attested to his honesty and by‑the‑book operation.
- Travis Hallman (5804 15th St E, Cottondale) – Current employee: said Wakefield trained him to follow rules; mistakes were lessons learned, not current practice; noted ATF compliance and a U.S. Marshal as customer.
- Owen Skinner (1512 Heritage Dr, Tuscaloosa) – Retired banker and 26‑year military veteran: spoke to Wakefield’s character and urged council to consider livelihood and community contribution.
- Karen Wakefield (1826 37th St NE, Tuscaloosa) – Family member: affirmed Wakefield’s respectful treatment of customers.
- Wakefield’s father (address not given) – Described son’s community service (taking kids flying, birthday parties) and argued police mishandled evidence.
- Ronald Lewis (U.S. Naval Officer, 43 years) – Emphasized presumption of innocence and urged council to judge character based on Wakefield’s record, not allegations.
- Forrest Fitz (Bologna, AL) – Said he never bought or sold firearms from Wakefield but considered him trustworthy and attentive to detail; asked council to consider seriousness of revoking a livelihood.
Discussion Items
- Business License Revocation Hearing – Guns and Ammo LLC
- City Attorney’s Case (Mr. Cheshire): Presented evidence that Guns and Ammo failed to comply with secondhand dealer ordinances (not uploading photos, not holding guns 10 days), sold stolen guns to customers, and bought a firearm from a convicted felon after being warned. Alleged that the owner, Joshua Wakefield, had a history of noncompliance dating to 2016 and attempted to have law enforcement trespassed during an investigation. Argued that the business posed a public safety risk and that 26 municipal citations were not “bad bookkeeping.”
- Witnesses:
- Investigator Jeffrey Kervin (TPD/FBI Safe Streets Task Force): Testified about the 2018 stolen gun sale that led to an innocent customer’s arrest; the 2025 investigation of convicted felon Christopher Collins; the purchase of a fifth gun from Collins after being told he was a felon; and the manager’s attempt to trespass officers on August 7, 2025. Also noted that after the search warrant, no stolen guns were found, but 28 firearms were seized for record‑keeping violations.
- Chief Brent Blankley (TPD): Said the large number of officers at the search warrant was for safety and efficiency; stated he had a “strong opinion” that the license should be revoked, citing the purchase from a known felon, interference with law enforcement, and 26 violations.
- Licensee’s Case (Attorney Josh Swords and Joshua Wakefield):
- Argued that Guns and Ammo operated for 13 years with no incidents since 2019; that the business brought in over $8.8 million in sales and paid $240,000 in taxes.
- Wakefield testified that before August 4, 2025, there was no legal way to check if a gun was stolen or if a seller was a felon; that the 10‑day hold guns were found in the safe, not sold early; and that the missing photo uploads were clerical errors that were later corrected.
- Claimed Investigator Kervin had a personal animosity; showed video of the trespass attempt, which he characterized as a misunderstanding by an employee; and noted that he voluntarily provided the requested video the next day.
- Wakefield’s father testified that the search warrant was executed with guns drawn and that officers unplugged cameras, causing damage.
- Council Questions:
- Council members asked about the 10‑day hold charges (guns were in the safe at the time of the search) and whether the city had attempted any alternative resolution (no agreement was reached).
- City attorney clarified that the 2019 letter from Wakefield’s attorney stated noncompliance with the ordinance, and that the felony conviction of Collins was a Class A felony (armed robbery) making him ineligible to possess firearms.
Key Outcomes
- Business License Revocation Vote – The council voted 4–2 to deny the revocation of Guns and Ammo’s business license. (Voting: Mr. Eatman – No; others – No; Mr. Lanier absent; total 4 No, 2 Yes.)
- All Consent Agenda Items – Adopted unanimously.
- Demonstration of Demolition – Approved.
- Liquor Licenses – Approved for El Agave, Party Down LLC, and Wild Game Cook-Off.
- Budgets and Contracts – All resolutions adopted as listed.
- Next Steps – The council adjourned at approximately 8:45 PM. The municipal court citations against Wakefield and manager Piggott remain pending.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. The Tuscaloosa City Council has now come to order. We ask that everyone please stand for our council prayer and then remain standing for our pledge of allegiance. Let's bow our heads, please. Dear God, bless our proceedings tonight. Give us the wisdom to know what is just and the strength to do what is right. Amen. Pledge allegiance is the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic, which is stands one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. Please be seated. Approval of the minutes. I make a motion to approve the minutes. Second. It's been moved and seconded to approve the minutes. Voting, Mr. Even. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Minutes stand approved. Before we get to proclamations and statements by Mayor and Council. Is there a motion to move revoking the business license privilege? Business and privilege to renew the business license of guns and ammo. Authorizing the amendment number 19 to fiscal year 2025 budget. So this will second. Moved and second. What this will essentially do is make it the last item on the agenda, and that way all the other items of the city can be taken care of, and our focus can be on that hearing. Beginning of vote has been moved and second. Beginning of vote with Mr. Lanier. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay. The agenda item has been moved. Do we have any statements by council members? Do we have any agenda item comments by citizens? Yes, sir. We have no unfinished business tonight. Consent agenda, clerk. This approves items A through G on the consent agenda. Move adoption.
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