Missouri state representative arrested after mental health crisis incident

Missouri State Representative Anthony Ealy, Jr., was arrested Wednesday after being reelected, according to freerepublic.com. Police responded to an incident at an apartment in Jefferson City where Ealy allegedly trespassed and threatened a woman and her husband, including a statement about a gun and a threat to kill.

The Jefferson City Police Department reported multiple witnesses saw a man yelling and causing a disturbance outside a nearby business. The incident report indicated Ealy appeared to be experiencing a panic attack and mental health crisis. The report also noted a similar incident occurred the previous night.

The woman’s husband intends to press charges for the threats made, and the Cole County Sheriff’s Department recommended charges of fourth-degree assault and disturbing the peace. Ealy was formally charged with these crimes on Thursday.

Ealy, a Democrat representing Jackson County’s District 36, was first elected in 2022 and recently won reelection with 68% of the vote. He is the first Black representative for Grandview and the youngest for the district. House Democratic leadership had removed him from committee assignments last spring to address personal matters and asked him not to run for reelection, but he chose to run again.

The House Democratic minority leader's chief of staff confirmed no plans to reinstate Ealy's committee roles for the upcoming legislative session.