A challenge coin inscribed with Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson’s name and the phrase “In service to all with honor and respect to each.” Dominic Hendricks said he received the coin from Anderson during a Fourth of July celebration in downtown Fort Myers July 4, 2026.
Provided by Dominic Hendricks
USA TODAY Network, Reuters
A Florida Gulf Coast University student is accusing Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson of sexual harassment, reporting to the university’s ethics board that Anderson asked him about his genitalia, preferences in sexual partners and other topics that made him “beyond uncomfortable.”
Dominic Hendricks, an 18-year-old FGCU student and regular attendee at city council meetings, says the encounter happened at the city’s downtown America 250 Fourth of July celebration.
Hendricks’ allegations come less than two years after Fort Myers police were called to downtown Fort Myers to reports of another young man behaving abnormally after having drinks with Anderson at a downtown bar.
Anderson has not been charged with a crime and denies portions of Hendricks’ account. He said the conversation July 4 focused on city government, school and Hendricks’ interest in politics, but he acknowledged asking about his dating life.
Anderson also denies asking whether Hendricks was “cut or uncut,” denies asking about his interest in older men and denies other sexually explicit questions.
Anderson, a former school resource officer, said his interactions with the two men are “consistent with the type of supportive interactions” he’s routinely had with people throughout his years of service.
What does the student say happened between him and the mayor?
Hendricks regularly attends city events, including council meetings and downtown celebrations.
According to Hendricks, he first met the mayor while he was in high school. After Hendricks spoke during a city council meeting in late March about green spaces, Anderson approached him, thanked him for attending and said, “If you ever want to come to my office,” according to meeting notes taken by the FGCU Office of Institutional Ethics and Compliance. The notes are dated July 7, three days after the alleged conversation, and record that Hendricks told a staff member at the ethics office that Anderson asked him:
Have you had sex before? Did you do it with a guy or girl?Have you ever thought of sleeping with someone older?
Hendricks said he had become a regular attendee at city council meetings and frequently spoke with Anderson about city policies and politics.
He said the two crossed paths again during the city’s Fourth of July celebration in downtown Fort Myers near Centennial Park. Anderson recognized him from previous meetings and approached him after giving a speech, he said.
According to Hendricks, the conversation began with questions about politics before becoming increasingly personal.
“We were at the front of the crowd at a big concert,” Hendricks recalls. “No one could hear us. He said it’s loud. Let’s move over here so we can talk.”
Anderson began asking him “rather odd questions,” Hendricks told The News-Press & Naples Daily News.
Hendricks said the mayor asked whether he had a girlfriend or boyfriend and whether he had ever had sex with either.
“He was asking prying questions,” Hendricks said.
Hendricks claims Anderson then asked, “How big are you?” and “Are you cut or are you not?”
He told The News-Press & Naples Daily News, “I’m really uncomfortable at this point.”
The conversation continued, he said.
“He asks about sex partners,” Hendricks said. “Were they older or younger. Asked if I’ve ever thought about older men. Said he believes he is not unattractive.”
“He talked about the Pride event,” said Hendricks, who says he is gay. “How he told the group he wasn’t ‘allowing’ anything because they have the right to do the event. Says he and the wife have good lesbian friends.”
According to Hendricks, Anderson then asked whether he had ever thought about older men.
“Would you go down on me? Have sex with me?”
Hendricks said Anderson later asked whether he was hungry and suggested going to Oxbow Bar & Grill, a restaurant and bar on the Caloosahatchee River in downtown Fort Myers. He said Anderson gave him a VIP event pass and that the mayor said he was taking him to dinner.
“I’m beyond uncomfortable,” Hendricks said. “I’m worried about myself and my own safety.”
Hendricks said he started texting friends, telling them he was scared and asking them to pick him up. He showed The News-Press & Naples Daily News the texts. “Please come and save me,” Hendricks texted his friends shortly before 8 p.m. July 4. “The mayor of fort Myers keeps trying to coerce me into sleeping with him.”
Hendricks also told The News-Press & Naples Daily News that Anderson asked about his future plans and suggested he could help him.
At about 8 p.m., Hendricks said Anderson gave him a challenge coin inscribed with Anderson’s name and the phrase, “In service to all with honor and respect to each.” Challenge coins are commemorative medallions that public officials, military leaders and law enforcement agencies often give out as tokens of recognition or appreciation.
Why did the student report it to FGCU?
On July 7, three days after Hendricks’ alleged discussion with the mayor, he met with FGCU’s Office of Institutional Ethics and Compliance to report his concerns. Hendricks said he turned to the university because of Anderson’s involvement with the alumni association. Anderson earned his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from FGCU in 2003. He received the 2024 Alumnus of Distinction Award from the FGCU Alumni Association, which is the highest honor bestowed by the association upon a graduate, recognizing distinguished personal, professional and public service achievements.
The university offered Hendricks Victim Advocacy Services, which provides confidential emotional support and safety planning, as well as Student Care Services and Counseling and Psychological Services.
FGCU declined to say whether it conducted any review or investigation related to the student’s allegations, citing FERPA, the Family Education and Rights Privacy Act, which makes certain student information confidential.
FGCU spokesperson Pamela McCabe said the ethics office generally handles matters involving students and university employees. Because Anderson is neither an employee nor a student and the allegations involve off-campus conduct, the university’s role is primarily to provide resources and support.
Hendricks said he also wanted the interaction documented because he needed to miss class to meet with the ethics office and request academic absence accommodations through Student Care Services.
While the Alumni Association operates as a separate nonprofit organization affiliated with the university, its bylaws require board members to uphold standards of professionalism, integrity and respect. The bylaws state that members serve as representatives of the university both on and off campus and that conduct deemed detrimental to the university or its mission may result in disciplinary action, including removal from the board.
Under the association’s bylaws, board members may be removed by a 60% vote of the board if members determine removal would serve the interests of the association.
Was the Fort Myers mayor involved in an incident reported in a 911 call?
A Fort Myers Police Department incident report from November 2024 details a 911 dispatch response to Hendry Street in downtown Fort Myers regarding a 21-year-old man acting abnormally.
“As of right now I’m waiting on the OK from my lawyer before I continue,” the man, Kagan Vann, said in a message to The News-Press & Naples Daily News Sept. 12.
According to the report, then 21-year-old Vann said that he met with a “government official” for a drink. He initially did not want to disclose the name to officers, but he later identified him as “the mayor.” When the incident occurred in 2024, Anderson was the city’s mayor. He has served in the role since Nov. 16, 2020, after serving as Ward 4 councilperson for the previous two years.
Body camera recordings obtained by The News-Press & Naples Daily News captured him telling officers on scene, “I was with a guy that he doesn’t want my name speaking because he’s a government official or something. Some dude. He doesn’t want his name being spoken.”
According to text messages reviewed by The News-Press & Naples Daily News, Anderson texted Vann asking to get together for “a cup of coffee or a drink.”
The young man recalled having two tequila and Red Bull drinks. Body camera footage captured him saying, “I only had two, and I don’t get like this.”
In the footage, an officer could be heard saying, “He’s drinking, and his friends think that maybe something else got put in his drink at 10 Twenty Five. We’ll go find out.”
Officers asked whether he knew the guy personally. Vann said, “I thought I did, and then he just said a bunch of weird stuff, and then I told him I didn’t want to do stuff, and then he got offensive.” He continued, “I had the last drink he got me and then left.”
He added, “I just didn’t want to do stuff, bro. Is that too much to ask for?”
Because he was under the influence, officers did not take a sworn, audio-recorded statement from him at the scene. Emergency medics took him to Lee Memorial Hospital, where he told officers that the mayor offered him money in exchange for sexual acts.
At the scene on Hendry Street, officers interviewed two witnesses, including the man’s friend, Tyler Tyrone Bell Jr. Bell told officers he worked at Taco Works next to the Kava Bar and learned of his friend’s plans to meet with the mayor.
“I got off of work around like 8 or so, 8:30 at the latest,” Bell said in a statement to officers. “He was telling me he had plans to go talk to the mayor.”
Bell said he looked at text messages on his friend’s phone before the meeting.
“It was a winky face emoji, like the open mouth emoji, like the shock-looking face and like the blushing emoji.”
Bell said he trailed behind his friend as he walked to 10 Twenty-Five Bar, keeping his distance so as not to be seen before watching them meet from a nearby bench.
He said later on he saw his friend bolt from the bar and run back to the alleyway behind the Kava Bar. Bell said his friend’s demeanor changed quickly.
“He was hysteric, talking about like, ‘Oh, He tried to solicit me. He was like asking if he could pay me money for something. He was like legitimately trying to get me to do something with him.'”
Bell added that his friend showed him information on his phone related to the sexual act he believed the mayor had been asking about.
Bell said his friend’s condition worsened within minutes.
“And 5 to 10 minutes into him talking to us about it, he starts getting a little loopy. He’s a little incoherent,” he said, “He’s drooling from his mouth. Tears are coming from his eyes. His pupils are huge. They dilate to the size a normal pupil would be instead of the normal little dot.”
Bell said he tried to help.
“I tried to get him to take some water. He won’t take it. I eventually make him drink. He sits down, doesn’t want to sit down. He’s up like pacing around the parking lot behind Kava.”
When asked how his friend usually is during social outings, Bell said, “He was fine. He’s in good spirits like he usually is.”
When officers asked Bell to elaborate, he clarified his friend told him the mayor had proposed sexual acts.
Reflecting on the sudden change, Bell said, “Just the fact that like everything seemed normal until it wasn’t, and that freaks me out.”
“I’ve been around him drunk more times than I can count,” Bell added. “He does not act like this. He’ll be smiley, but he’s reserved because he chills out when he gets drunk.”
Officers also interviewed another witness, Jermey Gordon Stanekenas, who was a 42-year-old employee at the Kava Bar at the time.
Stanekenas told officers that, despite not considering himself a particularly influential person, he held a role with the Lee County Republican Party and would be taking on a more prominent position that January. The News-Press & Naples Daily News reached out to Lee GOP for confirmation of his membership and role, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Stanekenas told officers, “Long story short is he was having drinks with the mayor, and I actually have the text messages with the mayor and the mayor propositioned him for sex, and he left his drinks unattended.”
Stanekenas continued, “He’s like, ‘I did go to the bathroom, left my drink unattended’… You don’t walk away with your drink unattended. And he’s young and impressionable and something isn’t right with him right now.”
Stanekenas said the situation immediately raised concerns.
“I’m telling you right now, as a man and as a father of more than just the twins on the way, I didn’t like the [expletive] energy one bit,” he said.
“I know predatory energy when I see it at the end of the day,” Stanekenas added. “I do know I don’t like the mayor’s energy. I never have.”
The 911 call notes state that the person who made the call, which was Bell, said a friend had two drinks but believed something else was going on, noting possible drugs, dilated pupils, pacing and giggling.
An officer reviewed text messages sent between the man and Anderson. The messages were screenshotted and provided by Stanekenas. In the report, an officer wrote that the text messages appeared consensual and non-criminal in nature. None of the messages showed any conversation about exchanging money for sexual acts, while noting that the contact name was saved as “Mayor Anderson,” the report stated.
The News-Press & Naples Daily News reviewed the text messages that led up to Anderson’s meet-up with Vann downtown. Vann mentioned his vehicle troubles when texting with Anderson. When discussing getting together, Vann texted Anderson that he was experiencing financial stress and needed “to save for a working car” because his vehicle “just gave up a couple days ago,” adding that he “just wanted to hangout and catch up.” In a subsequent message following their meeting, Vann reiterated his financial priorities to the mayor, writing, “I need to make money to fix my car and figure out my living situation.”
How did the mayor respond to claims of sexual misconduct?
Anderson told The News-Press & Naples Daily News that neither FDLE nor FMPD talked to him after the 2024 incident.
“I have seen the report,” Anderson said Sept. 14.
Fort Myers Police Chief Jason Fields did not respond to The News-Press & Naples Daily News request for comment.
Anderson said, in a written statement:
“I appreciate the opportunity to respond and provide additional context. As a former School Resource Officer and Police Explorer Advisor, I have had hundreds, if not thousands, of contacts with individuals seeking advice, guidance, or assistance,” Anderson said in the statement to The News-Press & Naples Daily News, adding that his interactions with the two men are no different from those relationships. “My intent has always been to remain accessible and helpful.”
Anderson said his interaction with Kagan on the 10 Twenty Five Patio de Leon Plaza “centered on his search for employment and his need for money to have his vehicle repaired.”
He described his interaction with Hendricks on July 4.
“We discussed the America 250 celebration and city government, as Dominic has been regularly attending council meetings and talking with me, councilpersons, and city staff. He has also expressed an interest in politics. We briefly discussed his plans for school,” Anderson said. “During the conversation, I asked Dominic if he had a girlfriend. When he said no, I jokingly asked, ‘Boyfriend?’ He responded that he and his boyfriend had broken up and that he was bisexual. I asked him how that was received at his school. He said he had several friends who were either gay or bisexual and that they were accepted. Shortly afterward, Dominic left.”
Anderson denies asking Hendricks whether he was cut or uncut. He said he did not ask Hendricks about older men.
“These conversations are consistent with the type of supportive interactions I have routinely had with people throughout my years of service,” he said.
Unlike city employees, elected officials are not subject to the city’s standard employee disciplinary process. Fort Myers’ employee handbook contains an anti-harassment policy for employees, but elected officials fall under state ethics laws governing public officers.
Florida’s Code of Ethics for Public Officers prohibits public officials from corruptly using their position to secure special privileges or benefits. Complaints alleging misconduct by elected officials may be filed with the Florida Commission on Ethics.
Charlie Whitehead covers Lee County and Fort Myers. Reach him at cwhitehead@gannett.com
Mickenzie Hannon is a watchdog reporter for The News-Press and Naples Daily News, covering Collier and Lee counties. Contact her at 239-435-3423 or mhannon@gannett.com.
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: ‘Beyond uncomfortable’: FGCU student accuses Fort Myers mayor of sexual harassment
Reporting by Mickenzie Hannon and Charlie Whitehead, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Mayor Kevin Anderson is escorted out by Fort Myers Police officers after a city council meeting at Fort Myers City Hall in Fort Myers, Fla., on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. Kagan Vann, Dominic Hendricks and several others accused Mayor Kevin Anderson of sexual harassment, wanted a new investigation and wanted him to be held accountable. Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily New USA TODAY Network, Reuters 
A challenge coin inscribed with Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson’s name and the phrase “In service to all with honor and respect to each.” Dominic Hendricks said he received the coin from Anderson during a Fourth of July celebration in downtown Fort Myers July 4, 2026. Provided by Dominic Hendricks USA TODAY Network, Reuters 
Kagan Vann prepares to speak during the public comment portion of a city council meeting at Fort Myers City Hall in Fort Myers, Fla., on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. Vann, Dominic Hendricks and several others accused Mayor Kevin Anderson of sexual harassment. Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily New USA TODAY Network, Reuters 
Downtown Fort Myers as seen on Thursday, July 9, 2026. A proposed Innovation Walk that starts at Centennial Park and ends at the Edison Homeis getting built. andrew west, Andrew West/The New USA TODAY Network, Reuters 
Dominic Hendricks, right, joins Kagan Vann as they wait to speak during the public comment portion of a city council meeting at Fort Myers City Hall in Fort Myers, Fla., on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. Vann, Hendricks and several others accused Mayor Kevin Anderson of sexual harassment. Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily New USA TODAY Network, Reuters 
Mayor Kevin Anderson sips water after Kagan Vann spoke during the public comment portion of a city council meeting at Fort Myers City Hall in Fort Myers, Fla., on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. Vann, Dominic Hendricks and several others accused Mayor Kevin Anderson of sexual harassment. Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily New USA TODAY Network, Reuters
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published September 21, 2026 at 4:17 PM.