City Council says FDLE will investigate FMPD handling of Nate Allen case

FORT MYERS, Fla.- On Monday afternoon, Fort Myers City Council voted to bring in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, to investigate the Fort Myers Police Department.

This comes after NFL player Nate Allen was falsely accused of masturbating in front of a teenager.
Allen’s lawyers have questioned how officers handled the case.

The Wilbur Smith Law Firm spoke to the council on Allen’s behalf.

Wilbur Smith himself, told the council there were many glaring errors in the investigation.

Smith said the most glaring was the “show up” FMPD did with Nate Allen.

He says it was unfair for the police to have the victim identify Allen, when Allen was the only person police showed her.

Smith said there is no way an internal police investigation could be transparent.

Allen agreed, telling the council, he thinks an outside agency should be involved.

“I hope you guys really consider handing it over to a different party, just so it can be conducted fairly. That’s the main thing. I’m looking for anything special, I’m not out for revenge, I just want the investigation to be conducted fairly,” said Allen.

Before the meeting, Allen’s lawyer Sawyer Smith showed us a tow record for Allen’s truck.

It shows the reason for the tow was an arrest even though police say they never arrested him. Smith says that’s further proof, his client’s civil rights were violated.

The council says FDLE will not get involved, until the FMPD investigation is finished.

Sawyer said he is happy that FDLE will get involved, but wishes the council had put a time limit on how long the FMPD internal investigation should take.

Chief Baker says it will take a few weeks.