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Antony Montfort, former security guard plans to sue Atlanta Councilwoman, Liliana Bakhtiari, the City of Atlanta, and his former employer following an altercation at Oakland Cemetery. Montfort, who says he was fired after the incident, claims the councilwoman acted aggressively and caused him to lose his job.
Incident Details
The dispute occurred on October 4, when Montfort says he was following orders to clear out visitors at the cemetery after closing time. Around 8:30 p.m., he encountered Bakhtiari and her friends, who were celebrating a surprise wedding engagement. According to Montfort, he approached the group, calling out, “Pack it up, pack it up! It’s time to go,” as the cemetery’s hours are listed as “dawn to dusk” on its website.
The security guard plans to sue Atlanta Councilwoman Bakhtiari, alleging that she became hostile, shoving him and knocking his hat off after he asked her to leave. “She pushed me because I was like, ‘Lady, get out of my face,’” Montfort told FOX 5 Atlanta. He asserts that he never touched Bakhtiari and believes she had no right to put her hands on him. Another security guard who witnessed the event reportedly corroborated Montfort’s account.
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Atlante Councilwoman Bakhtiari’s Response After Security Guard Plans to Sue Her
Council member Bakhtiari has not directly commented to the media but indicated in her statement to police that she felt threatened by Montfort’s approach, which she described as aggressive. She also claimed she was uncertain if Montfort was armed. In an attempt to leave the cemetery, Bakhtiari said she pushed Montfort to protect her friends, and another security guard later helped them exit.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Bakhtiari expressed regret over how the situation unfolded, stating, “I take accountability for my actions and hope that protocols prioritizing de-escalation are enacted.”
Montfort’s planned lawsuit reflects his claims of wrongful termination and physical misconduct, bringing further scrutiny to the incident involving the councilwoman.like police officers, do not possess special rights beyond those of any other citizen in B.C.
While incoming changes to B.C.’s Police Act will not impact the oversight of security guards, concerns regarding use-of-force incidents can still be referred to law enforcement for potential criminal investigations.
