The city of Springfield yesterday filed suit against Greene County’s sheriff and commissioners alleging violations of an agreement to accept municipal prisoners into the county jail.
In the suit, the city seeks a declaratory judgment requiring the county accept municipal prisoners into the jail, as well as injunctive relief, according to a news release.
The
suit, which names defendants Sheriff Jim Arnott and commissioners Bob Cirtin, Roseann Bentley and Harold Bengsch, claims the county violated a 1997 intergovernmental contract to accept municipal prisoners. Further, the suit maintains prisoners’ stay at the jail should continue to be paid for by a law enforcement tax approved by Greene County voters in late 1997.
According to the suit, in April, Arnott sent a letter to Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams stating the county would stop accepting municipal prisoners at the 1000 N. Boonville Ave. jail. After refusing Mayor Bob Stephens’ request to continue to accept the prisoners, Arnott closed the doors to them April 3, according to the filing.
City and county officials met July 8, when Arnott said he would work to make space for municipal prisoners on an “as available basis.” That day, the sheriff issued a
news release stating the jail was open to the prisoners. From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Springfield Police Department arrested 22 people, including seven who had municipal warrants. One had felony charges, but the other six did not, so the latter were released after the sheriff declared the jail full at 8 p.m. and again closed it to municipal prisoners, according to the suit.
On July 10, the jail was open to municipal prisoners from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 3 a.m. to 6 a.m., during which time five offenders were booked on Springfield municipal charges.[[In-content Ad]]
