2 fired after trying to cast spell on city official

NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- Two police department employees have been fired after allegedly engaging in a religious ritual to get rid of a city worker.

The employees, one a North Miami Beach police officer and the second, North Miami Beach Police Chief Larry Gomer's secretary, reportedly planned on using Santeria, an Afro-Cuban religion, to cast a spell on City Manager Lyndon Bonner.

Sources tell 7 News that the two employees were going to use bird seed to put a curse on Bonner, in an effort to get him out of North Miami Beach City Hall. "Ultimately, the city manager really doesn't have anything to worry about, because in Santeria, you can't just spread bird seed and make the supernatural do what you want it to do," said Michelle Maldonado, a professor of Religious Studies at the University of Miami.

According to sources, the employees tried to convince a janitor at city hall to help them by spreading bird seed all over Bonner's office. The seeds are believed to create negative energy when they are scattered.

However, the janitor refused. "Unfortunately, when individuals dabble in the religion, like spread bird seed on the ground, they really perpetuate the negative stereotype that Santeria is all about spells and witchcraft," Maldonado said, "and they think they can do these things to intimidate folks."

Both employees have since been fired, but they have the right to appeal their terminations, the City of North Miami Beach said.

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