Pevely Police Chief Charles “Tony” Moutray was placed on paid administrative leave Monday night amid allegations about a domestic dispute at his Festus-area home in November.
No charges were filed against Moutray in the case, but after information about the alleged dispute got out, it drew attention from a wide range of people, including representatives from various anti-domestic abuse organizations.
Some of those representatives organized and held a “Candlelight Vigil and Rally Against Domestic Violence” targeted at Moutray in front of Pevely City Hall on Monday evening before the start of the Pevely Board of Aldermen meeting.
During the public comments section of the meeting, Pevely Mayor Stephanie Haas announced that Moutray had been put on paid administrative leave.
She said the board voted 7-0 in a closed meeting, which was held prior to the regular meeting, to suspend him.
Moutray, 39, could not be reached for comment, but his attorney, Allison Sweeney, said her client has done nothing to deserve being removed from his position, based on terms spelled out in city ordinances.
“Nothing about this rises to that level,” Sweeney said.
“(The suspension) will be indefinite until a third party comes in to investigate,” Haas told the approximately 50 people gathered at Monday’s board meeting.
Also at that meeting, the board voted 7-0, after a first reading, to approve hiring attorney Gregory P. White to investigate the allegations against Moutray. Ward 4 Alderwoman Wendy Arnold was absent from the meeting.
Although the matter requires a second reading and affirmative vote for official approval, Haas said White already is on the job after she took an administrative action to hire him.
White will be paid $125 an hour, Haas said.
She said Capt. Larry Miller will lead the Pevely Police Department in Moutray’s absence.
According to the Jefferson County’s Sheriff’s Office investigative report on the alleged domestic dispute, at about 11 p.m. Nov. 17 Moutray’s wife, Dawn Moutray, 42, called authorities to the couple’s home and claimed she had been involved in an “altercation” with her husband after he informed her he was no longer happy in their relationship.
She reportedly asked her husband if he was involved with another woman, which he denied, and then an alleged scuffle ensued after she asked to look at his cell phone, which he initially refused to turn over to her.
Moutray’s wife alleged that at one point, her husband grabbed her and pulled her over his body, causing her to fall off the bed and strike her head and neck against the wall and floor. She told the investigator she experienced discomfort, but did not seek medical attention, the report said.
Dawn Moutray said the altercation continued after her husband gave her his cell phone, which she took to another room and locked herself inside, according to the report.
She said that while she was inside the room looking at the phone, her husband allegedly broke a hole in the door, reached in and unlocked it, and then went inside, grabbed her by the hair and drug her to the ground, injuring her left ear. He then allegedly took the cell phone and left their home, the report said.
In Tony Moutray’s statement to the investigator, he said he did not cause his wife to fall off the bed. Instead, he said his wife fell while she attempted to climb over him to take the cell phone from him, according to the report.
He also told investigators, the report said, that he wanted to leave the home but needed his cell phone first, so he did use his knee to knock a hole in the door of the room where his wife was locked inside and then a physical altercation ensued as they fought over possession of the cell phone.
The investigator said it looked like Dawn Moutray’s ear was red and swollen with what appeared to be recently dried blood on it.
In addition, the investigator reported seeing “several superficial lacerations” on Tony Moutray, according to the report.
The investigator said he completed a probable-cause statement against Tony Moutray for alleged fourth-degree domestic assault, a misdemeanor.
The probable-cause statement was submitted to the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to decide whether to file charges.
Several of those who attended the rally and the Pevely board meeting on Monday brought up a $300,000 settlement the city’s insurance provider paid in 2018 to Robert Golden Jr., a Festus man who sued the city claiming he had been beaten by Moutray and other Pevely Police officers during a 2016 traffic stop. The city admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement.
Rally
About 40 people, including Pevely residents and other interested parties, attended the vigil and rally outside City Hall.
Among them was Dawn Pelot, who identified herself as Dawn Moutray’s attorney.
Dawn Moutray, however, did not attend.
“She’s hanging in there,” Pelot said. “She’s very frightened.”
Pelot said the rally was held to protest the fact that the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office did not file charges against Tony Moutray.
Forrest Wegge, former Jefferson County prosecuting attorney who was serving in that position at the time of the Moutrays’ dispute, could not be reached for comment.
The protesters also said they were upset that up to that point, Pevely officials had not investigated the matter.
“It’s our job to question what was not done,” Pelot said. “We at least want a trial on the merits.”
She said the Moutrays are separated and headed toward divorce.
“I represent her in the divorce,” Pelot said. “Nothing’s been filed at this time.”
Cheryl Summers of St. Louis County, who also attended the rally, said she is a domestic abuse victim and helped organize the event.
“Ultimately, the hope is to say no to domestic violence,” Summers said. “I don’t know the specifics of this case. I only know what I’ve read.”
Like other attendees, Summers said she is worried Tony Moutray may have been treated differently by the legal system because of his status as a police chief.
Rick Arnold, a former Pevely alderman, said he attended because he feels a hard stance needs to be taken against domestic abuse. Arnold also said he had concerns about Tony Moutray before the alleged domestic dispute, citing the Golden case.
“We have some good cops here in Pevely,” Arnold said. “There are just a few bad apples that abuse their power.”
Jennifer Golden, mother of Robert Golden Jr., said she attended the rally because she, too, has concerns about Moutray’s behavior.
“I’m just here in support,” she said. “Something needs to be done about the abuse going on.”
Moutray was not at the rally or the regular board meeting. Sweeney, his attorney, said Tuesday she wonders why there’s public outcry now, nearly two months after the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office personnel decided against filing charges.
Sweeney also said Moutray informed Pevely officials about the alleged domestic dispute when it happened and questioned why Pevely officials put Moutray on paid administrative leave now.