A Glasgow city councilman and Fayette liquor store owner is facing two felonies in Morgan County after authorities say he interfered with a traffic stop and later injured two detention officers during a violent struggle at the Morgan County jail on New Year’s Eve.

Jeffrey Thomas Parks, 40, is charged with two counts of third-degree assault of a special victim, both Class D felonies, a charge of interfering with a first responder, a Class B misdemeanor, and a charge of resisting arrest, a Class A misdemeanor, according to court documents filed Jan. 1.

Parks is a Central Ward Alderman on the Glasgow city council. He has filed for re-election and will be on the ballot in April.

A probable cause statement filed by Sergeant Jared J. Allen of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department stated that a Chevrolet Bolt, in which Parks was riding, was pulled over after Sgt. Allen observed multiple centerline violations and inconsistent speed variations of greater than 10 miles per hour over and under the posted speed limit in Gravois Mills, Mo, in Morgan County. The driver was cooperative and provided identification, according to the statement. But Parks, who was in the front passenger seat, was “visibly intoxicated,” and repeatedly interfered with the stop and refused to provide identification despite multiple directives.

“After more than a half dozen directives to Parks were ignored, I recognized that his interference was not going to cease,” the statement read. Sgt. Allen then warned Parks that he would be arrested if he continued.

Once under arrest, Parks allegedly resisted. “Parks continued to berate me with his combative and slurred speech, becoming increasingly defiant. Although handcuffed, Parks began to become physically aggressive, charging toward me and pushing me. He then physically fought my attempts to place him in my patrol vehicle for several minutes,” Sgt. Allen wrote in the probable cause statement.

“While being transported to the Morgan County Adult Detention facility Parks continued his verbal berating, which included several threats to physically assault me as soon as the ‘cuffs come off’,” the report stated. 

At the Morgan County Jail, Parks allegedly remained combative and had to be physically restrained multiple times. The complaint, filed with the court by Morgan County Prosecutor Dustin G. Dunklee, alleges Parks knowingly caused physical injury to two corrections officers by “fighting and/or kicking” them.

According to the probable cause statement, “Parks remained in the facility entrance for several hours with Detention Officers as his behavior persisted and he refused to enter the body scanner or comply with any directions which would facilitate his entry into the facility and booking,” Sgt. Allen wrote.

Parks is no stranger to law enforcement, having been charged 10 times in Howard and Chariton counties for offenses including unlawful use of a weapon, assault, trespassing, harassment, aggravated stalking, and violating an order of protection, for none of which he was ever convicted.

“This isn’t the first time I’ve had these charges and beat them,” Parks allegedly stated during the arrest.

On Jan. 1, Parks posted a $25,000 surety bond and was released, according to online court records. The following day, he appeared in court with his attorney, Adam Dowling of Columbia, where he waived formal arraignment and pleaded not guilty.

Bond conditions require Parks to submit to drug and alcohol testing upon request.

Parks is due back in Morgan County court on Tuesday, March 24, for a disposition hearing in front of Judge James Stephen Grantham.

The City of Glasgow has not issued a statement regarding Parks’s arrest. Missouri law states that: “No person shall qualify as a candidate for elective public office in the state of Missouri who has been found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony under the federal laws of the United States of America or to a felony under the laws of this state or an offense committed in another state that would be considered a felony in this state.”