Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem plans Monday to make a statement about a physical altercation with Columbus Mayor Robert Smith.
Karriem reportedly confronted Smith, in Smith”s office at City Hall around 9:30 p.m. Thursday — about the city”s plans to use a $2 million grant to restore the historic Highway 82 bridge across the Tombigbee River into a pedestrian walkway — when the confrontation escalated into a physical altercation.
Karriem later was treated and released from Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle for injuries sustained during the fight.
The Lowndes County Sheriff”s Office, which is investigating the matter, confirmed Karriem Friday filed an arrest affidavit for simple assault against Smith.
Smith turned himself in and was booked Friday afternoon in the Lowndes County jail, but has since been released on bond; a preliminary hearing on the misdemeanor charge has been scheduled for April 27.
Karriem Saturday said he plans to hold a press conference at an undetermined time Monday; he declined further comment on the matter.
Smith could not be reached for comment.
Columbus Chief Operations Officer David Armstrong earlier said it was “a very bad situation … absolutely inexcusable,” but he could not elaborate on the incident.
“From the city”s standpoint, we”re treating this as a personnel matter and we don”t comment on personnel matters,” Vice Mayor and Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin earlier noted.
Respondents to a Commercial Dispatch online poll, by overwhelming majority — 64 percent — were calling for both elected officials to resign, Saturday night.
Another 14 percent said Karriem is to blame for the fight; 13 percent voted it”s time for the city to move on.
Twelve percent said it was a personal issue. Only 1 percent of respondents blamed the mayor for the altercation.
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