Crayton asks for police aid

First Ward City Councilwoman Almeta Crayton filed a complaint with the Columbia Police Department on Wednesday in response to what she called a “threatening” visit from John G. Clark, a former mayoral candidate and former president of the North Central Columbia Neighborhood Association.

Crayton spoke publicly of Clark’s visit — without naming him — at a Monday night meeting of the Columbia City Council. Her comments came after the council’s discussion and vote on a request by Covenant Community Development Corp. for rezoning to accommodate a grocery store and accompanying development at Garth Avenue and Sexton Road.

Capt. Zim Schwartze, East District commander for the Columbia Police Department, said Crayton said Clark was trying to sway her against the issue. Crayton wept Monday as she discussed the incident.

“I think it was just a cheap low shot; it’s really cheap,” she said at the meeting. “I’m angry more than anything.”

Although the rezoning request passed, Crayton voted against it. She told reporters during a break in the meeting that she cast her “no” vote as a direct result of what she perceived to be a threat.

Police Chief Randy Boehm confirmed on Thursday that Crayton had filed a complaint against Clark.

“She required from us to contact Mr. Clark ... (and) ask him not to come back to her property,” Boehm said.

Schwartze said Crayton wanted an incident report filed and a trespass warning given to Clark. She said Crayton felt Clark’s “words to her felt like he was trying to sway her one way or the other.”

An officer contacted Clark early Thursday afternoon to present the trespass warning, Schwartze said.

Schwartze said Clark told the officer that he had been to Crayton’s home to “express his concerns on ways that she was representing ... her ward.”

But “we’re not exactly quite sure what happened,” Schwartze said. “None of us were there with those two.”

Boehm said that Crayton did not request any further police action.

Neither Crayton nor Clark responded to repeated calls and messages from the Missourian on Thursday.