After being charged with a class D felony, Springfield City Councilman Nick Ibarra yesterday resigned from his post.
According to a Springfield Police Department probable cause statement, Ibarra on Jan. 1 was involved in an altercation with his wife, identified in the police report as "KMI." Ibarra allegedly threatened to kill both himself and his wife with a loaded handgun at his Springfield home, but no bullets were fired.
According to the probable cause statement, Ibarra allegedly told his wife, "One of us is going to die today. I need to contemplate who it is going to be."
During a post-Miranda interview, Ibarra admitted to having the firearm but denied pointing the handgun at his wife. He did admit to sending her the following text message prior to the incident:
"I never thght I would be in a world where I seriously contmlate making 10 bullets 8. But I also never thght u would do this either."
Ibarra is charged with the class D felony of unlawful use of a weapon.
Ibarra also has been identified in an alleged drinking and driving incident on Thanksgiving Day; police still are investigating a road rage claim, according to a report from
KSPR, Springfield Business Journal's media partner. Charges have not been filed, according to Missouri Case.net.
In a letter dated Jan. 4 to Mayor Jim O'Neal tendering his resignation, Ibarra pointed to the two incidents and personal issues.
"After personal reflection and discussions with family and friends, I have come to the recognition that I am in no position to further procrastinate dealing with the issues of my personal life that are at the forefront, as well as with issues as an individual that I have merely tried to Band-Aid for many years now," Ibarra wrote in the letter. "At this time, to best service the constituents, I believe it is necessary that I remove myself from my current duties and allow the council to find someone that is currently more capable than I am to fulfill the position of Zone 1 Councilman."
The full letter can be found here.City Council will select an individual to fill the remainder of Ibarra's term, which ends April 2013, at which time Springfield voters will vote on the position. City staff has not yet set a timeline to fill the Zone 1 vacancy, but more details are expected to be announced later, according to a city news release.
Ibarra was elected to City Council in April 2009 with 1,493 votes, or 68 percent, beating incumbent Denny Whayne, who had 700 votes, or 32 percent, according to
SBJ archives.
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