Earlier council efforts over Ray’s leadership role
The council had previously considered actions involving Jonathan Ray’s role as mayor pro tem. In its report on those efforts, WBRC reported that a proposal to remove Ray did not receive a second and that a censure resolution failed. WBRC also reported that censure carries no legal penalty and described disputes over the city budget as a major source of council disagreements.
Booking and reported encounter
Ray turned himself in to the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, Oct. 1, according to ABC 33/40, which cited the sheriff’s booking information. The station reported that Ray, 43, was booked at 12:26 p.m. on a harassment charge, received a $1,000 bond and remained in custody when its report was published.
The booking followed a police report from Margaret resident David Napier about an encounter with Ray outside a recent city council meeting. ABC 33/40 reported that video showed Ray approaching Napier. Napier told the station that Ray made a derogatory remark and threatened to beat him if he got near Ray’s vehicle. These accounts of the encounter are attributed to the station’s reporting, not independently verified here.
ABC 33/40 reported that the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office was investigating the incident involving Napier and that Ray’s charge was the first reported criminal charge arising from it. The station also said it had sought Ray’s response to the video and allegations but had not received one by publication, and that court proceedings or further information from the sheriff’s office could provide more detail.
Mayor Matt Tortorice had proposed removing Ray from the mayor pro tem position and censuring him, but the council voted to keep Ray in the role, according to ABC 33/40. The station reported that Tortorice might bring those proposals to the council again.
