Crime & Safety
Report: Columbia Police Chief to File Defamation Suit Against Accuser
Interim Columbia Police Chief Ruben Santiago is suing David Navarro, a former captain at the police department.
An attorney for interim Columbia Police Chief Ruben Santiago said his client will file a defamation lawsuit against the former police captain who accused him of trying to frame a city official.
Attorney J. Todd Rutherford said Santiago is suing David Navarro, a former captain of the police department's Community Services Division, for "slander, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress," according to a report from WLTX.
Navarro claims Santiago approached him about a plan to frame Assistant City Manager S. Allison Baker by planting guns and drugs in his car.
Navarro said he was fired from his position when he reported the scheme to SLED.
Santiago has denied Navarro's allegations.
City officials said on Monday that Navarro was fired for violating city policy by having "secret or unauthorized recordings" of a conversation between he and Santiago, insubordination to a supervisor and "criticism and malicious gossip."
Read more
- Report: SLED to Investigate Claims Against Columbia Police Department
- Fired Columbia Police Captain Claims Interim Chief Plotted Against City Official
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