Private eye's role in Riviera petition focus of hearing: "Builder Dan Catalfumo was so concerned that Riviera Beach residents might gather enough signatures to put his $280 million makeover of the Ocean Mall before voters that he hired a local firm of private investigators started by ex-CIA agents to keep an eye on their activities.
On a Sunday last October, investigator Richell Breakwell traveled to Singer Island, where Catalfumo wants to build his project and the hub of his opposition. There, Breakwell went to three businesses, where she asked for the petitions and signed them under an alias, according an affidavit prepared by the former CIA operations support officer.
The city wants to use Breakwell's information in its legal battle with the Public Beach Coalition, which sued Riviera Beach to get three petition questions on the March 13 ballot. Her affidavit shows the petitions are invalid, attorney Brian Joslyn said.
But the coalition, which was the focus of Catalfumo's secret snooping, charges that Breakwell's covert operations went too far, violating Florida election laws."
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