Domenico responds to ethics violation on AccessVision

Commissioner Jeff Domenico isn't leaving his seat quietly.

A roughly one-hour program was aired Tuesday night on AccessVision after the regular Battle Creek City Commission meeting, during which the Ward 5 representative addressed his May 30 Facebook post that prompted a public hearing in which he was found to have violated the commission's ethics code. Domenico stormed out of the hearing and did not mount a defense of his actions during the hearing.

Domenico also claimed that Battle Creek Police Chief Jim Blocker admitted to assaulting resident and self-proclaimed journalist Autumn Smith, because Blocker said in an interview with Police Inspector Brad Wise that he may have shook her hand and had glitter on himself.

Smith is charged with a misdemeanor of filing a false police report after Michigan State Police said she alleged Blocker assaulted her in a City Hall stairwell before a commission meeting last year. Surveillance video from the stairwell shows no assault.

During the program, Enquirer news clippings, Facebook screenshots and photos are displayed behind Domenico. He also plays audio recordings and news media reports. It appears Smith is helping with the show's production, as Domenico asks her to show items throughout the program.

Domenico, who has been on the commission since 2011, is not seeking re-election.

At the end of last night's program, a statement reads, "The views and comments expressed on this program are those of the producer and not those of AccessVision, its staff and board of directors."

On his Facebook page, Domenico said the special will air again at 7 p.m. tonight.

You can watch the clips, posted by Smith on YouTube, here:

Contact Jennifer Bowman at 269-966-0589 or jbowman@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow her on Twitter: @jenn_bowman