New Hanover commissioner tells radio host he was threatened by a Port City United employee

New Hanover County Commissioner Dane Scalise went on Wilmington's Morning News radio podcast with host Nick Craig earlier this week to describe what he said was a threatening encounter with a Port City United employee.

Scalise said the incident occurred on Monday morning after the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners' regular meeting.

He said that after the board meeting, he went to the post office and on his way back to where he was parked, he briefly chatted with a Register of Deeds employee and then encountered a man in the parking lot that who was unfamiliar to him.

Scalise said the man said, "I'm one of those gang members you've been talking about."

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Scalise has been outspoken in multiple county budget meetings about his views on Port City United and has expressed wanting the county to eliminate funding the department in its entirety for the next fiscal year.

Port City United has been under scrutiny recently after two employees were arrested, one on multiple drug and firearm charges and one charged with accessory after the fact to attempted murder after a shooting at the Houston Moore community.

Scalise said the man told him he was an employee with Port City United and that he doesn't agree with Scalise's stance on the department.

Scalise said he attempted to speak to the man to offer his side of the situation and the man yelled at him using an expletive and told him not to interrupt him.

"And then I realized this is not a good interaction that's happening right now," Scalise said to Craig on the podcast when describing the encounter.

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Scalise said he believes the situation was an attempt to intimidate him into reconsidering his approach on closing down the department.

"His comments to me included 'you won't be a county commissioner for long' and ultimately ended, his last parting comment to me before we separated from each other was 'be safe out there.'"

Scalise said he was intimidated at the time, but that the interaction will not change his position on Port City United.

"I shouldn't have been in that situation, but no one should be in that situation," Scalise said.

He said he reported the situation to county management and they confirmed that the individual is employed with Port City United. He also made a report to the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office.

"Let me be clear, the citizens are allowed to disagree with me," Scalise said on the podcast. "I hear it all the time and I welcome it," but he said that when the comments turn to threats, it's unacceptable.

"If I have anything to say about this, Port City United will come to an end this year, at the end of this budget year," Scalise said.

Chief Communications Officer for New Hanover County Josh Smith provided a statement from the county about the situation: "New Hanover County is aware of an exchange that occurred on May 20, involving a Port City United employee, who is currently on and has been on administrative leave, and a county commissioner on county property. The commissioner reported feeling threatened by comments made during the encounter."

A formal human resources investigation was initiated the same day the county received the allegation, which is in line with established policies and processes.

According to the statement, further information will be shared in compliance with state personnel privacy laws.

Scalise said he trusts the integrity of the county's human resources department as well as local law enforcement to do what they feel is best regarding the situation.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: New Hanover commissioner describes threat from Port City United employee