Barry says stalking arrest 'caused great pain'

WASHINGTON - Former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry says U.S. Park Police should never have arrested him on charges he was stalking his ex-girlfriend.

The current D.C. Councilmember says that he did nothing to deserve the arrest Saturday, and that it has "caused great pain" to his family and the community.

The 73-year-old made the remarks Thursday afternoon a press conference at the Wilson Building.

But Barry refused to answer multiple questions from reporters about the contract his former girlfriend, 40-year-old Donna Watts-Brighthaupt, received that paid her $20,000 in taxpayer money.

Barry awarded a $60,000 contract to Watts-Brighthaupt because she was experiencing financial difficulties. The contract would have given Watts-Brighthaupt a maximum of $60,000, but she only received a third of the money.

Neither Barry nor his attorney, Frederick Cooke, would comment on whether Watts-Brighthaupt did any work to receive the money, despite a pledge Wednesday to provide documentation.

Meanwhile, Watts-Brighthaupt is denying that she was awarded a city contract by Barry because of personal financial difficulties.

Barry's spokesperson has said Barry gave her a $60,000 contract because she was about to lose her home and car.

But Watts-Brighthaupt says that's not true and that she received $15,000 for writing a proposal for a civic education program.

Barry was arrested Saturday afternoon in Anacostia Park by U.S. Park Police and charged with stalking Watts-Brighthaupt.

Watts-Brighthaupt says she never accused him of stalking. She says she did not flag police down and that they first pulled him over for a traffic violation.

Barry says he was stopped by authorities on his usual route home and was taken to a police station in handcuffs, where he waited for four hours before being read his rights.

On Wednesday, federal prosecutors dropped stalking charges against Barry.

"We are thankful that the U.S. Attorney's Office looked carefully and diligently into the horrible accusations placed on Mr. Barry, and the testimony of both parties," says Natalie Williams, Barry's spokesperson.

"The arrest of Mr. Barry should have never taken place. Mr. Barry has said that he has every intention on elevating these concerns."

U.S. Park Police plan Thursday to release Barry's arrest report, which should provide new details on what led officers to arrest Barry. To this point, a Park Police spokesman has only said "there was probable cause."

WTOP was the first to report that prosecutors would not purse the stalking charges.

In a written statement, prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia say after analyzing the "relevant factors" including "elements of the offense and the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence," they have decided not to pursue charges.

Cooke has said Barry and Watts-Brighthaupt were headed to Rehoboth Beach for the Fourth of July weekend when she changed her mind while having lunch in Annapolis.

(Copyright 2009 by WTOP and The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)