FBI takes over investigation into incidents involving St. Louis Sheriff’s Department

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - The Federal Bureau of Investigation has taken over an investigation into incidents involving the St. Louis Sheriff’s Department.

On Friday, First Alert 4 learned that police were looking into a report that a St. Louis Sheriff’s deputy had sexually assaulted a detainee at the City Justice Center. The deputy, who had been with the department for three years, was terminated recently, an attorney told First Alert 4.

Sources on Friday also said that St. Louis City Sheriff Alfred Montgomery placed the current head of the jail, Tammy Ross, in handcuffs essentially arresting her for a time. The next day, Sheriff Montgomery told First Alert 4 that investigators were heading back to the jail Friday to continue with their investigation but Ross was not allowing them inside.

“A deputy from our office did ask [deputy] commissioner to come over to the sheriff’s side so we could talk to the Public Safety Director about the matter,” he said. “She refused, and she started getting, making the deputies uncomfortable on the floor, started being kind of aggressive and the deputy placed her in handcuffs and brought her over to the sheriff’s side.”

Montgomery did not say whether he instructed the deputy to put Ross in handcuffs or if the deputy acted on their own accord.

Monday afternoon, the St. Louis Police Department issued the below statement:

“The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department initiated an investigation into incidents that involved the City of St. Louis Sheriff’s Department. After a preliminary investigation by the SLMPD, we have referred the matter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The investigation into the alleged sexual assault involving a detainee while in the Sheriff’s Department custody will be led by SLMPD detectives assigned to Sex Crimes."

Rev. Darryl Gray, the chair of the Detention Facilities Oversight Board for the City of St. Louis told First Alert 4 Investigates on Monday he has directed board staff to investigate what allegedly transpired at the City Justice Center, including what took place between Sheriff Alfred Montgomery and acting Jail Commissioner Tammy Ross.

Sources told First Alert 4 she had been placed in handcuffs for some time.

It is still unknown what exactly happened Friday and the public won’t know for sure until all video of the incident is released. Those are materials First Alert 4 Investigates has made public records requests for.

As of Monday, the only party speaking is Sheriff Montgomery himself.

“I’m a man of law and order. No one is above the law, nobody is above the law,” Sheriff Montgomery told First Alert 4 Saturday.

Montgomery said investigators with the sheriff’s internal affairs unit were trying to investigate an apparent sexual assault of a detainee in the jail by a deputy. It is a situation Montgomery said he finds deeply troubling.

“Our office does not tolerate any sexual misconduct,” he said. “It will be strictly enforced and that message also goes for any other deputy that may be involved in anything such as those acts as well.”

Friday, Montgomery’s lawyer told First Alert 4 the deputy who is accused of the assault has been terminated.

According to Montgomery, investigators were heading back to the jail Friday to continue with their investigation but Ross was not allowing them inside.

“The commissioner denied access to the sheriff’s office to the jail, which impeded on the process of the sheriff’s office,” Montgomery said.

Not everyone agrees with the Sheriff and his staff going to the CJC, including a former deputy Darryl Wilson.

“It makes the sheriff’s department look very unprofessional at this point,” Wilson said.

Wilson said he departed the department earlier this year. He said Sheriff Montgomery doesn’t have the authority to take the actions he did.

“The sheriff only has control of the court house and serving papers. They have absolutely no authority to go inside the justice center and say let me see video of what’s going on. They can’t do that.

Mayor Tishaura Jones echoing a similar message in a statement to First Alert 4 Investigates, Monday:

The Sheriff’s Office is responsible for protecting courts, transporting prisoners, running the tax sale on the steps of the courthouse, and serving eviction papers. The Sheriff’s Office does not run the jail or conduct investigations. The mayor believes an investigation into this troubling incident should occur.

First Alert 4 Investigates has learned the deputy’s name but is choosing not to name him until charges are filed. We expect additional details in the coming days.

His attorney said they have no comment.

Sheriff Montgomery said he is asking for charges to be filed against the former deputy.

He told First Aler 4 his office is reviewing its legal options regarding its jurisdiction within the jail process.

“The people elected me as city of St. Louis Sheriff to work in capacity of the Sheriff’s office and that’s what I plan on doing to the best of my ability,” Montgomery said.

Sheriff Montgomery was unable to go on camera Monday. In response to SLMPD requesting the FBI investigate the incident at the CJC, his attorney said, “We will cooperate with all investigations to the best of our ability.

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