Kansas City-area state representative arrested in Jefferson City after disturbance involving threats
A Kansas City-area lawmaker was being held in the Cole County Jail after being arrested for a disturbance involving threats, KOMU reported.
Anthony Ealy, 32, the Democratic state representative for Missouri’s 36th House District, was charged Thursday with fourth-degree assault and disturbing the peace, according to a news release from the Jefferson City Police Department. Ealy was arrested at his nearby residence.
Officers responded to the 600 block of East Capitol Avenue on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 11:29 a.m., KRCG-TV reported. Multiple witnesses told police that a man had been standing outside a business, yelling and making threats of violence. Witnesses reported that the man also made comments about having a weapon.
The arrest comes just a day after Ealy won reelection to the 36th District, securing 68% of the vote on Tuesday. Ealy was first elected to the seat in 2022.
Lawmaker held without bond after arrest
As the legal process moves forward, formal charges filed by the Jefferson City Police Department were not yet appearing in Missouri’s online court record system as of Thursday afternoon. Ealy is currently being held in the Cole County Jail on no bond.
The incident follows previous administrative steps taken by House leadership regarding the lawmaker’s standing in the legislature. Marc Powers, Chief of Staff for the Minority Leader’s Office, provided context on Ealy’s legislative status following the arrest, stating that Ealy had been removed from committees this spring so he could address his personal issues, and confirming that there are no plans to restore his committee assignments for the upcoming session.
Police have not released additional details regarding the specific business involved or the identity of the individual threatened as the investigation continues.
