Woman accuses official of battery

He says he struck up a conversation with her at a restaurant and never touched her.

By ABBIE VANSICKLE and JEFF TESTERMAN
Published October 20, 2006

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TAMPA - Police are investigating a battery complaint at a Harbour Island restaurant involving Hillsborough County tax collector Doug Belden.

The alleged encounter took place Oct. 12, between 9 and 10 p.m., at Jackson's Bistro, a restaurant near the Westin Harbour Island Hotel, police said.

The inquiry began about 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13, when police received a report that a battery occurred the previous night at the waterfront restaurant, said police spokesman Larry McKinnon.

Belden, 52, told a reporter he went to Jackson's that Thursday night and approached a woman with a dog at the bar. He struck up a conversation with her.

"She alleges I hugged her dog," said Belden, who was at Jackson's with a group of people. "I never touched her at all."

Police declined to give specifics about the allegations, including the name of the complainant, citing an open investigation. Police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said the investigation will likely be completed today or early next week.

Thursday evening, Pinellas County attorney Jeff Brown told a reporter that he represents a woman named Julie Irwin in the matter.

He declined to say Irwin's involvement or give specifics on the allegations, but he scoffed at Belden's account of the night.

Staff writer Rebecca Catalanello and researcher Cathy Wos contributed to this report. Abbie VanSickle can be reached at 226-3373 or vansickle@sptimes.com.