About a half dozen Fort Dodge residents went to the City Council meeting Monday, asking for help in dealing with an individual they accuse of using a Facebook page to engage in what they described as ongoing harassment and defamation.

Three people addressed the council, including one who declined to give her name despite longstanding council rules requiring that. She promised to tell the council members her name privately.

Others stood in the mezzanine of the council chambers, holding signs saying, “I shouldn’t have to hide my face to be safe,” “Anonymous because retaliation is real,” and “Protected speech or protected harassment?”

The cause of their anger is a Facebook page called “Accountability for All.” They said it is maintained by a man they identified as Richard Francis, Richard Urich or Richard Copeland.

“Mr. Urich has publicly posted my personal information, tracked my location, manipulated images of me in degrading ways, and made repeated insinuations suggesting criminal or abusive behavior on my part,” said Melisa Carlson, of Fort Dodge. “These actions have caused significant distress and public panic.”

“As of Feb. 8, 2026, Mr. Urich has continued posting public statements encouraging others to contact him if they believe they have ever been harmed by me,” she added. “This pattern of behavior is ongoing, reckless and deeply concerning.”

She said she has filed a report with the Fort Dodge Police Department about the issue. She added that she is working with a lawyer in Des Moines.

Other speakers offered similar accounts of what they called harassment by the operator of the Facebook page.

City officials did not respond to the complaints Monday night.

In response to an inquiry from The Messenger, Richard Urich Francis wrote in an email that the Facebook page was started in 2024 following “a personal experience during a traffic stop involving a Fort Dodge officer.”

“What began as a response to one officer’s misconduct has grown into a broader platform dedicated to exposing corruption and demanding accountability from powerful institutions,” he wrote.

“We are not going away,” he added. “While the city may selectively choose who they help, we remain focused on the facts and our First Amendment rights to free speech and a free press.”