Transcript:
[This story has been updated.]
By Jim Brady
WHCP
Cambridge City Elections flared up in Dorchester County District Court Wednesday when Commissioner Sputty Cephas testified that he and his sister, council President Lajan Cephas, were being harassed and stalked by the wife of mayoral candidate Andrew Bradshaw.
Sputty Cephas, in an unsuccessful request to get a continuing restraining order against Natalie Bradshaw, said he was followed by a white Lincoln to his residence October 1st. As he turned into the driveway, the driver of the Lincoln snapped pictures of his house and sped away.
Cephas said he followed the car to a nearby intersection where he was able to recognize the driver as Natalie Bradshaw. He told the court that he then drove to RAR Brewery to confront Andrew Bradshaw about the incident .
After he left, Cephas said he spotted Natalie Bradshaw’s Lincoln again – this time, obstructing an intersection near a meeting that Lajan Cephas was attending. In court both Cephas’ testified that they suspected Natalie Bradshaw was motivated to attempt to challenge their qualification to run for office by rumors that they were not legitimate residents of Cambridge .
Bradshaw’s attorney, Philip Cronan, didn’t contest that Natalie Bradshaw had followed Sputty Cephas, but said statutes for obtaining a peace order required multiple incidents of harassing behavior. The judge agreed, but declared that Natalie Bradshaw is now on notice to have no further contact with the Cephas’.
Outside court, Andrew Bradshaw accused the Cephas’s of abusing the judicial system for political purposes. (Lajan Cephas did not file any complaint. She testified when called in court.) Bradshaw said that while he has made no official challenge to Lajan Cephas’ residence status, he recounted various neighbors who contend that she doesn’t live at her listed address on Washington Street.
Lajan Cephas denied Bradshaw and said she met every requirement the city has set forth for candidates, and questioned Bradshaw’s motivation.
Asked by reporters why his wife was following Sputty Cephas and taking pictures, Andrew Bradshaw said he wasn’t sure because she wouldn’t tell him exactly what happened, but that she seemed embarrassed by the incident.
[NOTE: This story has been updated to include a correction that Natalie Bradshaw’s car was not observed near Lajan Cephas’ residence. It observed near a meeting Lajan Cephas was attending. Also, a clarification: Sputty Cephas filed the complaint against Bradshaw and was granted an earlier court order that expired October 9. Lajan Cephas did not file any legal complaint. She testified when called on.]
