In a scene reminiscent of a third world country, two Alabama city officials got into a brawl at a city council meeting.
Birmingham Mayor William Bell and councilman Marcus Lundy, the two combatants were both taken to the hospital with minor injuries after the scuffle, AL.com reported.
A source told AL.com that the two men went into a private room to talk about a consultant when the dispute happened.
Council members told AL.com,”the altercation followed a Monday night budget and finance committee meeting to discuss BP settlement funds.”
Mayor Bell tried to leave when Lundy grabbed him around the throat and pulled him back, the source said.
Lundy said the mayor called his employer and tried to have him fired. A charge Bell denied, according to AL.com.
Video of the council meeting caught the sound of someone yelling “whoa, whoa, whoa before a banging commotion was heard.”
“Violence is never the answer regardless of the location,” Police Chief A.C. Roper told AL.com. “It’s extremely concerning, not just for me, but for our entire city so we’ll conduct a thorough investigation and try to get to the bottom of exactly what happened and what precipitated this incident.”
“We are looking at specifically assault charges. There could be some other charges involved,” he said after an arrest warrant was issued for Lundy.
City Council President Johnathan F. Austin told AL.com that Lundy would be pressing charges.
“This right here is ridiculous. It makes no sense,” he said. “This is a democracy, not a dictatorship.”
A city spokesperson issued a statement after the altercation.
“The Mayor is currently recovering at a local area hospital. A formal police report has been initiated and will be ready for release in the next hour,” City spokeswoman April Odom said in the statement. “From there, the magistrate will swear out a warrant for the arrest of Councilman Lundy. When approached by Birmingham Police, Councilor Lundy refused to give a statement.”
AL.com reporter Jeremy Gray photographed Lundy’s injuries.
AL.com’s John Archibald tweeted from the scene.
Austin will read a statement and take no questions. Councillor Lashunda Scales said “he speaks for the council.” Which is s first.
— John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) December 15, 2015
Oh #youcantmakethisup — John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) December 15, 2015
People overheard the mayor yelling “no no no” from inside the room.
— John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) December 15, 2015
Austin says mayor assaulted Lundy. — John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) December 15, 2015
Austin: this is not a dictatorship.
— John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) December 15, 2015
Austin won’t answer when asked wh initiated contact — John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) December 15, 2015
Pictures show the back of Lundy’s legs scratched up.
— John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) December 15, 2015
Council says it’s the mayor’s fault. Mayor’s office says it is Lundy’s. pic.twitter.com/4qmikUXEGX — John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) December 15, 2015
This is the room where it happened. pic.twitter.com/dq3f93wVfd
— John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) December 15, 2015
Councillor Rafferty says mayor and Lundy need to sit across table and have conflict resolution. Calls it “embarrassing” — John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) December 15, 2015
An hour before altercation, mayor was speaking to an active shooter training group about workplace violence.
— John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) December 15, 2015
Police: Lundy’s assistants, the only witnesses, refuse to give statements to police. — John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) December 15, 2015
This is some Alabama Legislature s— right here.
— John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) December 15, 2015
The only way this could be wilder is if it was Deontay Wilder. — John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) December 15, 2015
@bluethaque yes, “witnesses” was wrong word for that tweet. Should have said “people in the hall.”
— John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) December 15, 2015
Right. RT @HabershamStreet: @JohnArchibald too bad B’ham voters mostly don’t seem to care. Im almost apathetic to this. That’s bad, right? — John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) December 15, 2015
@HabershamStreet but are you entertained?
— John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) December 15, 2015
@JohnArchibald This is very confusing. Article on https://t.co/kcWBraDMv5 says no witnesses, tweets said Lundy’s staff witnessed it. Ideas? — LJ (@l1vedreaming) December 15, 2015
@l1vedreaming staff was right outside the door and reportedly opened up to see …. Something. Now won’t talk.
— John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) December 15, 2015
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