BATAVIA COUNCIL ASSAULT 

IN SOUTHWEST OHIO, A BATAVIA COUNCIL MEMBER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT FOLLOWING MONDAY'S PUBLIC MEETING.
MICHAEL GARDNER IS A MEMBER OF THE BATAVIA VILLAGE COUNCIL AND ALSO A FORMER LOCAL POLICE CHIEF. HE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT OF ASSAULT STEMMING FROM AN ALTERCATION THAT BEGAN DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING. RESIDENT WILLIAM ALBRIGHT EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT AN UPCOMING FIRE LEVY. AFTER THE MEETING, GARDNER ALLEGEDLY FOLLOWED ALBRIGHT OUTSIDE, ENGAGED IN A HEATED VERBAL ALTERCATION AND TOOK A SWING AT HIM. POLICE SAY IT WAS A PHYSICAL ASSAULT. GARDNER PLEADED NOT GUILTY IN COURT YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) AND WAS RELEASED ON BOND.