Raleigh City Councilwoman Allegedly Assaulted by Raleigh Mayor’s Husband

RALEIGH – That is the allegation made by Raleigh City Councilwoman Kay Crowder, according the Raleigh News & Observer.

From the N&O:

“[…] The altercation with Ron McFarlane took place at the Raleigh Convention Center on Feb. 6 during a community meeting unveiling the Dix Park Master Plan.

“The reports are true that I was verbally and physically assaulted,” Crowder said in an email. “I am still very shaken by the experience, and I prefer not to speak publicly about this at this time.”

Efforts to reach Ron McFarlane on Wednesday morning were unsuccessful, but the mayor responded in a statement.

“My husband, Ron, was understandably stressed that evening due to my surgery the previous day,” Nancy McFarlane said in the statement sent to The News & Observer. “He was upset that I was not recognized, as the rest of the council was, in the remarks given by Council Member Crowder at the Dix Park Community Meeting. He expressed to Council Member Crowder how upset he was in a way that I believe was too strongly worded. I’m sure that Council Member Crowder understands that he was tired and stressed that night. […]

Bob Edgerton said he went to greet Crowder after she spoke to talk about a crosswalk in the southwest part of town. He’s the chairman of the Southwest Citizen Advisory Council, one of several organizations that advise Raleigh leaders on city policy, projects and proposed development.

“First of all, I did not recognize the man,” Edgerton said Tuesday. “I did not know who he was. And I did see someone standing with Kay Crowder with a grip on her left shoulder shaking her rather violently and yelling at her. I was a little concerned about her safety, you know?”

The man was standing in front of Crowder, shouting in her ear, Edgerton said. He couldn’t hear the conversation, but “there was something rather difficult occurring,” he said. He approached Crowder to help her. […]”

Being tired and stressed doesn’t seem like a solid defense in court when facing assault charges, does it?

If you want to read more eye witness accounts and background on the Raleigh officials involved, you can find the rest here at the N&O.