PRINCETON —
An incident involving a Princeton police officer who reportedly stopped the vehicle of her domestic partner and subsequently brought her to the station where an argument ensued, is currently under investigation by the West Virginia State Police.
State Police are currently investigating the incident involving Sgt. Mary Beth Gergely at the request of the Princeton Police Department.
Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ash said the incident was caught on surveillance cameras at the station.
“I was called to come down and take a look (at the video),” Ash said. “They had a tape over two hours long. I saw some highlights — enough to say the State Police needed to take a look at this.”
Ash said he didn’t see any physical contact between the two, but, he noted, “I only watched a little bit of the tape.”
“I think she (Gergely) stopped her vehicle for something, and they had gone to the station thereafter,” he said. “An argument ensued at the station.”
Ash said it is his understanding the two had an “intimate relationship.”
“I don’t know what the status of the relationship was, or is now,” he said.
Ash said the State Police investigation is to determine if any criminal laws were broken.
“I saw a domestic argument taking place in an inappropriate setting,” Ash said. “It’s being investigated to see if there was any breach of the law.”
Ash said Gergely is on administrative leave.
Princeton Police Chief P.V. Powell said he could not comment on the incident because it is currently a personnel matter that is under investigation.
The incident occurred on June 17.
Powell said they have had an ongoing investigation since the incident occurred.
Gergely has been an officer with the Princeton Police Department for more than 16 years, Powell said.
First Lt. V.S. Deeds is conducting the State Police investigation.
— Contact Samantha Perry at sperry@bdtonline.com
Local News
August 8, 2012
BDT Exclusive: State police probes incident involving Princeton officer
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