A Jefferson City Council member faces a felony charge for extortion.

According to court documents, the alleged incident took place on January 2nd when Council member Larry Teeples entered the law enforcement center to speak with Police Chief Mark Clouse. Sheriff Jack Williams overheard part of the conversation between the two in which an argument ensued with Clouse telling Teeples to leave the building.

Clouse asked Williams to document their interaction. Later in a statement from the sheriff’s secretary, it noted that Teeples allegedly told Clouse that he would not support the police department as a councilman unless the police department left his grandchild alone. The statement said that Teeples complained about a traffic stop involving his grandchild and claimed the actions by the police officer were wrong and uncalled for. Clouse tried to explain to Teeples that the officer thought he smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, but Teeples kept talking over Clouse and thought that he was wrong. That’s when Clouse told Teeples “That’s it. We’re done. You can get out now.”

Williams then went to City Administrator Mike Palmer who told him that he had an interaction with Teeples following the incident with Clouse. Court documents show that Palmer agreed to submit a statement on January 4th saying that he encountered Teeples saying that he would have a hard time voting for anything police related.

Teeples then agreed to speak with Williams at the law enforcement center on January 7th. Court documents show that Williams told Teeples the issue was what he told Clouse about voting against anything police related. Williams asked if Teeples wanted a lawyer and Teeples said he didn’t need one. Court documents state that Teeples then told Williams that he told Clouse “that over the years he has given all that they wanted and from now on he is going to vote no on some of that stuff.”

Williams filed a felony charge for extortion against Teeples. He was arrested and booked into the Greene County Jail and was later released on his own recognizance. Online court records show his initial court appearance is scheduled for January 30th. Raccoon Valley Radio reached out to Teeples and he didn’t want to make a comment at this time. Mayor Craig Berry says he doesn’t know all the details but he was contacted by Teeples about an arrest warrant from the county and that he was being booked on it. Berry said this is a county charge and not a city charge, so it is not going through the police department. As far as Teeples keeping his seat on the city council, Berry says at this time he believes it’s up to Teeples of what he wants to do either resign or stay on the council.

Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.