Contentious meeting ends in charges
Staff writer
Peabody’s turbulent city council meeting Monday night boiled over into a series of shouting matches afterward.
Peabody Police Chief Matthew Neal said a battery citation was issued after Peabody Community Foundation associate director Paige Barnes walked into self-styled public watchdog Michael Eravi, the director of Lawrence Accountability, after the meeting.
Barnes, a community member who was trying to be a peacemaker during the meeting, will now end up facing battery charges for the after-meeting incident.
“I’m speaking to the gentleman from Lawrence Accountability,” Neal said. “A citizen walked by, bumped into him, and we issued that citizen a citation for battery.”
Eravi said he captured the entire incident on video.
“She just literally came through and intentionally ran into me and bumped me backwards as she walked through,” Eravi said. “She did it right in front of the chief, and the chief saw it.”
Barnes said she was just trying to get back to her office after the meeting.
“When I walked out of that meeting, there was nowhere else for me to turn,” she said. “There was a heated discussion. My hands were both full. I said ‘excuse me.’ My hands never came above my waist.”
Barnes admitted touching Eravi as she was passing through a crowd.
“He instantly started yelling assault,” Barnes said. “I went to my office as quickly as possible to get myself away from the situation.”
Eravi contended Barnes’ contact was intentional and occurred without warning.
Despite the turbulent meeting, Barnes said she saw the hopeful signs of the different people of Peabody coming together.
“If I can get more of that, I’ll take ten battery charges,” Barnes said. “Because that’s how much I care about Peabody.”
Neal said he reviewed multiple videos of a second confrontation between Eravi and police officer Charles Walker but did not find evidence of a crime.
“I reviewed several videos of it. The video did not show any battery taking place,” Neal said.
Eravi, who sought charges over the incident, said Walker confronted him after his interaction with Barnes.
“He decided to come up and chest bump me and threaten me with an arrest for words,” Eravi said. “He insinuated that I was going to be charged for saying words to him.”
Walker later posted a public apology on Facebook.
“To the citizens of Peabody, I want to publicly apologize for my outburst with the gentleman tonight. It was unprofessional and out of line for me. I should’ve conducted myself a little better.”
Neal said he talked to Walker after the incident.
The conflict stemmed from the meeting’s public comment portion.
Eravi brought materials reflecting his claims the Peabody police department was failing to meet state training and reporting requirements.
“Your law enforcement is unqualified at this date,” Eravi told the council. “They may have licenses, but they are not continuing their training.”
Eravi cited Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training records for Neal and multiple officers, alleging gaps in employment records and lack of continuing education.
Barnes later addressed the council, saying community attention should be focused on social needs rather than disputes like during the Dec. 29 council meeting over whether mayor-elect Kevin Burke and others had stalked Neal over his use of a city vehicle for personal purposes.
That dispute carried over at the end of Monday night’s meeting when councilwoman Linda Martinez delivered a statement directed at Burke.
“I was shocked and appalled by the information that was brought to light concerning your behavior towards Chief Neal and Officer LaValley,” Martinez said.
She said Burke not acting professionally and was exposing the city to legal risk.
“You have put our city council and the city in a very scary and dangerous position for being sued,” Martinez said.
Martinez called on Burke to resign.
“I ask that you do the morally and ethically correct move and resign your position as mayor,” she said.
During her allotted speaking time, Barnes had tried to put that dispute behind, and encouraged the community to do so.
“Can we maybe use some of that energy and effort to talk about the kids in town that live in houses without water?” Barnes asked. “Or maybe we could talk about the drug problem in town?”
Barnes said she supported Chief Neal and the police department.
“I think we have a good crew,” she said. “I look to see Chief Neal getting all of the requirements he needs. He’s coming to an unpleasant situation where people are repeatedly run off who legitimately just want to do a good job.
“I mean, we can continue to have kids in houses without running water, but me, as a school board member, as associate director of Peabody Community Foundation and a seventh generation, I want to worry about the kids that don’t have running water and not what people do in their off time.”
After the meeting Neal reaffirmed his relationship with the city council and he is ready to work with the new mayor.
“I didn’t agree with some things that happened, but I’m ready to work with them,” he said. “I got an apology from them, and I appreciated that. I think the relationship is going to be fine.”
During the regular business agenda, Kevin Burke was sworn in as mayor. New council members Bailey Penner and Andrew Rosine also were sworn in.
The council voted to retain city attorney Zach Strella under the same terms as his 2023 contract.