Dennis Bradley, former Hillsboro mayor, will not face charges at the state Circuit Court level over his Feb. 5 arrest for allegedly harassing and assaulting a Jefferson County deputy, the special prosecutor on the case said.
The Sheriff’s Office had sought charges against Bradley for fourth-degree assault of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and stalking/harassment.
Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Bob Parks, who was assigned as the special prosecutor, said he didn’t think he could get a conviction in the case, so he decided against filing charges. He said he was appointed to the case last month and made his decision this month.
“I reviewed the warrant application and the police report and decided not to file any charges in the case,” Parks said Thursday (March 15). “I did not believe it rose to the level where I could get a jury to convict.”
Bradley resigned as Hillsboro mayor Feb. 26 at the start of an impeachment hearing the city’s Board of Alderpersons had scheduled.
He said he regretted his confrontation with the deputy.
“I always have been a supporter of law enforcement and the judicial system and I have faith in it. My family and I believe in the judicial system and we’re happy with the system right now.”
Bradley also said he didn’t think the confrontation should have led to his arrest.
“This was a personal matter,” he said.
Sheriff Dave Marshak, however, has a different view of the case.
“I was incredibly disappointed with the choice made by Prosecuting Attorney Bob Parks and personally spoke with Parks to share my disgust with his decision,” Marshak said in a written statement. “(Parks) shared with me that while he believed our deputy was physically touched, he didn’t think the elements required to be met under the state statute would be met for assault and was concerned if he could win that type of ‘assault case’ in front of a jury. (Parks) agreed it was unacceptable behavior.
“At no point is it acceptable to follow a deputy while challenging him to take off his badge and gun and to engage in a physical confrontation. Above that, (poking) the deputy after being warned the first time, I thought the deputy was generous, patient and lenient in his warnings.”
Marshak went on to say that he is not dropping the matter.
“I forwarded the investigative file to the Jefferson County municipal prosecutor for review after learning of the decision not to charge at the state level. I believe a decision will be made soon,” Marshak said.
Bradley said the Board of Alderpersons acted rashly by pursuing his impeachment.
“I think they prematurely asked for my resignation and forced my resignation with an impeachment instead of letting due process run its course,” he said. “I should have been allowed due process before the board acted toward an impeachment as every citizen should have that right.”
Joe Phillips, a Ward 1 alderperson until the board appointed him to replace Bradley as mayor, said the board had ample reason to impeach Bradley, regardless of whether he was charged with assault.
“There were four charges brought against him by the city,” Phillips said. “That (the assault case) was one and any of the four standing alone on their merits warranted the hearing.”
In addition to Bradley’s alleged attack on the deputy, the board said it was pursuing Bradley’s impeachment because he reportedly revealed information from a closed executive session to an employee, violated city policy concerning employee grievances and discussed confidential personnel matters with an attorney not retained by the city.
Bradley denied the accusations.
“These charges that were made against me by the board were all bogus,” he said.
Sheriff’s Office accusations
The incident that led to Bradley’s arrest began at about 2 p.m. Feb. 5, when a deputy, whom neither the Sheriff’s Office nor Bradley named, was at a gas station in the 1800 block of Little Brennan Road in High Ridge to get a refreshment, and Bradley allegedly confronted him there, Marshak said in an email.
Bradley allegedly was “yelling expletives and challenging (the deputy) to a physical confrontation,” Marshak said.
He said Bradley twice poked the deputy in the chest.
The deputy then told Bradley he was under arrest and ordered him to place his hands behind his back, but he “refused to comply,” Marshak said.
After he was arrested, Bradley was transported to the Sheriff’s Office, booked and released pending application for warrants. When Bradley left the jail, he allegedly walked across the parking lot and stood next to the arresting deputy’s patrol car for a while, Marshak said.
He said Bradley allegedly had been harassing the deputy since 2014 – ever since the deputy arrested one of Bradley’s family members for suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Bradley denies harassing or assaulting the deputy. He also said that he didn’t purposely stand next to the deputy’s vehicle, but instead was just waiting for a ride.
After the Feb. 5 incident, the deputy requested an ex parte order of protection against Bradley, which Jefferson County Div. 3 Circuit Judge Dianna Bartels granted on Feb. 6.