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Business owner confronted by Wood River mayor's husband over opponent's political sign won't pursue charges

MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Business owner confronted by Wood River mayor's husband over opponent's political sign won't pursue charges

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Charges against the husband Wood River Mayor Cheryl Maguire will not be pursued by a local business owner who says he confronted her for having an opponent's political sign on the premises.

According to a Wood River police report, Robert "Bob" Maguire entered Ironworks Auto Sales, located at 535 North 6th Street, before noon on Thursday, Feb. 25 demanding to know why co-owner Staci Grieve was displaying a sign for mayoral candidate Tom Stalcup.

Grieve's husband and Ironworks co-owner Bryan Grieve was not present at the time of the incident. Aside from their cleaning person, Staci Grieve was the only person in the building when Maguire entered.

The incident report states Staci was friendly and greeted Maguire by saying, “Hey, how’s it going.” 

"She knew by Bob’s body language he was very angry," says a summary of the incident written by Police Chief Bradley Wells.

"He responded by saying, 'I want to know why you have a Tom Stalcup sign, and I just want you to know that Cheryl is very upset about this.'"

Wells wrote that Staci Grieve described Bob Maguire as being "confrontational and made her feel very uncomfortable."

"She described him to be pacing around the floor and kept saying, 'Do you want me to tell you a true story about Tom Stalcup?'" the report states. "He kept walking to the door like he was going to leave but kept repeating himself."

Cheryl Maguire has not responded to requests for comment.

Having first been elected in 2017, she is seeking a second term as mayor, and faces Stalcup in the April 6 municipal election.

In releasing the incident report, police also provided video captured by an Ironworks camera.

"As Staci indicated, it did appear Bob’s body language was confrontational," Wells wrote. "He pulled his facial mask down and was pointing at her while approaching her on several occasions."

Bryan Grieve told Wells that Stalcup had asked and he had granted permission to place a sign at the business.

"Bryan stated if Bob would have come to the business and asked like Tom Stalcup did, he would have allowed him to place a sign on the property also, but that is not what Bob did," Wells wrote.

The report indicates Bob Maguire showed up again at Ironworks later that day and Bryan Grieve advised him that police had been contacted.

"(Bob) Still not happy, says the sign will probably cost me business," Grieve said, according to the report.

Wells concluded stating, "I asked Bryan if there was anything further he wanted me to do at this point. He advised me he did not want me to contact Bob and he did not want to pursue the issue at this point."

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