Missouri State Representative Anthony Ealy Jr., a Democrat representing District 36 in Jackson County, was arrested by the Jefferson City Police Department on Wednesday. The arrest, which was made following a bizarre outburst and ongoing mental health crises for the congressman, came just one day after Ealy Jr. cruised to re-election.
Ealy received 68 percent of the vote on Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Dave Thomas. He first won the seat in 2022 by defeating incumbent Democrat Annette Turnbaugh.
Police were dispatched at approximately 11:30 a.m. Wednesday to the 600 block of East Capitol Avenue following reports of a disturbance. An arrest report described a man experiencing “some sort of panic attack or mental health crisis.” Multiple witnesses stated that Ealy was yelling outside a business while a family made arrangements for a deceased family member.
According to a probable cause statement, Ealy mentioned having a firearm, lunged toward a person who approached him in an attempt to de-escalate, and repeatedly said, “I’m going to kill you. Call the police; I’m going to kill you.”
The statement noted that Ealy had allegedly engaged in similar conduct the previous night. After being advised of his Miranda rights, Ealy “denied making threats or mentioning a firearm,” the probable cause statement reads. Officers located him at a nearby residence and took him into custody.
“It was definitely a scene, it was pretty chaotic,” one witness told local outlet Fox4.
Cole County records listed the arrest at 11:57 a.m. on misdemeanor charges of fourth-degree assault and disturbance of the peace. The fourth-degree assault charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $2,000 fine, while the peace disturbance charge carries a maximum of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Ealy was booked into the Cole County Jail and held without bond. He appeared by video for arraignment on Friday morning, while court documents cited him as a danger to the community.
Marc Powers, chief of staff for House Minority Leader Ashley Aune, stated that leadership removed Ealy from all committee assignments in the spring “so he could better focus on personal issues” and that “There are no plans to restore his committee assignments for the upcoming session.” Powers added that Democratic leaders had discouraged Ealy from seeking re-election.
A Missouri House spokesperson told Heartlander News that a misdemeanor arrest alone will not prevent Ealy from being seated when the next General Assembly convenes in January. An ethics complaint would be required for the House Ethics Committee to take up the matter.
“Not guilty and Innocent. YHWH Yeshua. Blessing Annatoria Chitapa. I was the one approached, pushed and chased with a bat and my private residence invaded while I was just smoking a cigarette. I believe this has something to do with my Christian Faith, that I’m black and reelected. Something a prophecy,” Ealy’s office said in a statement to local outlet KRCG.
“Remember the attached weird satanic symbol was placed in the kitchen above my head in my residence (where a bunch of black sentaors and reps reside) along with people who have shown up that we do not know. I do not know anything else, I want peace and for this to be wrapped up but thats all I have to say. Something else bigger is going on. YHWH Yeshua. My record speaks for itself. True prophets live through this mess.”
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