Police File Citation Against St. Louis Alderman Over Alleged Urination During Meeting

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Jul 24, 2001

The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A city alderman accused of urinating into a trash can during a City Hall meeting has been cited by police, and the city attorney is investigating whether to file charges.

During a July 17 meeting and debate on redistricting, aldermanic president James Shrewsbury told alderman Irene Smith she would have to yield the floor if she left for a restroom break.

Deciding she could not yield on the issue, Smith had aides surrounded her and the trash can with a sheet, tablecloth and quilt. "What I did behind that tablecloth is my business," Smith said later.

Police filed the citation Monday, saying Smith violated a city code barring lewd conduct such as public urination.

City Counselor Patti Hageman said on Tuesday that her office was investigating whether the citation merited filing of a misdemeanor charge against Smith. If convicted, she could be fined up to $500 and jailed for up to 90 days.

Smith did not immediately return telephone messages Tuesday. Her attorney, Anita Rivkin-Carothers, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that if Smith is charged, she will plead innocent, relying on the city's "inability to prove her guilty of any violation."

AP-ES-07-24-01 1904EDT

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