by Danny Spewak, News Director
Oct. 4, 2011
AUDIO EXTRAS:
Description of Monday’s events by Gary Kespohl
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COLUMBIA – The city council unknowingly appointed an accused child molester to the Citizens Police Review Board Monday, but it later decided to vacate the position after a council member’s Internet search revealed the criminal charge.
The council approved Merwyn Alexander for the board in a 4-3 decision during the first hour of the meeting. However, while researching a separate topic later that night online, Second Ward Councilman Jason Thornhill discovered through an ABC 17 News article that police arrested Alexander on child molestation charges Friday.
Once the news spread to the rest of the council, Third Ward representative Gary Kespohl motioned for a revote on the position at the end of the meeting.
“I mean, [Thornhill] discovered it by accident, really,” Kespohl said. “And he told me, ‘we just put this guy on the Citizens Review Board,’ which I was aware of.”
Kespohl said the police chief performed a background check on all applicants for the board, but he completed it before Alexander’s arrest on Friday. That background check revealed only minor charges on his record.
“He had two speeding tickets. That’s nothing compared to what this charge is,” Kespohl said.
For now, Kespohl said the council will leave the position open. If the justice system acquits Alexander, Kespohl said a revote would occur to determine his fate. Alexander responded to the allegations Monday in the Columbia Daily Tribune and said the accusations were false.
“If just felt like we couldn’t put him on that board judging police misconduct of a police officer when he a has a criminal action against him,” Kespohl said.
