ST. LOUIS - A lawsuit blames Bel-Ridge officials for an incident at an emergency meeting.
Manson Graves filed a federal complaint on August 8 in the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division against Michael Ruff, Mark Harris, Jamal Fisher, Officer Freeman, William Martin, Officer Boone, Bobby Magers, and Officer Kick.
According to the complaint, in April 2018, Willie Fair was elected as the Mayor of Bel-Ridge and Graves was "an ardent supporter" for Fair. On April 6, 2018, outgoing Mayor Rachel White called an emergency meeting of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Bel-Ridges in response to unsubstantiated fears that upon assuming office Fair would terminate members of the Bel-Ridge Police Department, the suit says.
Members of the public, members of the media, members of the Bel-Ridge Police Department and Plaintiff were all in attendance at this meeting. After the meeting, as Graves was leaving, Alderman Ruff allegedly approached Graves "in an aggressive manner" to the point that Ruff had to be restrained from attacking Graves by an officer of the Bel-Ridge Police Department, the suit says.
This incident was captured on video by Elliot Davis of the local Fox News affiliate, the suit says. Graves alleges that Ruff directed police officers to draft investigative reports stating that Graves had assaulted Ruff. Chief Mark Harris and Officer Jamal Fisher directed their subordinates with the Bel-Ridge Police Department to write false investigative reports and arrest Graves, the suit says.
Other officers wrote reports as well and on May 18, 2018, Graves was arrested, the suit says. On Oct. 2, 2018, the St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office refused to issue charges against Graves and the charges were dismissed on August 8, 2019.
Graves seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney's fees and cost of suit. Graves is represented by Patrick A. Hamacher and Elad Gross.
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division 4:21-cv-00989-NCC