Margaret councilor Jonathan Ray charged with harassment following encounter with citizen

Margaret City Councilor Jonathan Ray has been charged with harassment, according to jail records.

Last week, WVTM 13 spoke with several Margaret residents who said Ray verbally assaulted them following a City Council meeting. The incident was caught on video.

David Nappier filed a police report about his encounter with Ray. The Margaret resident and lung cancer survivor, said he was verbally assaulted by the councilor in the parking lot after the meeting.

“He comes right to me at my truck. I happened to be parked right by him, actually he parked by me and caught me between both trucks and threatened me twice,” Nappier said. “He said ‘you sound like you’ve got a male part stuck in your throat.’ That’s terrible.”

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Gary Himert, another Margaret resident, said he witnessed the councilor making comments about another person’s weight before turning his attention to him.

“I was outside having a conversation with a couple other parties and Jonathan Ray walked over to another person’s vehicle, made some comments about his weight, and then that person drove off,” Himert said.

Jail records show that Ray was booked on the harassment charge and released on bond from the St. Clair County Jail on Thursday.

Margaret Mayor Matt Tortorice condemned the councilor’s behavior, calling it unacceptable for a public official.

WVTM 13 has reached out to Ray’s office for comment but has not received a response.

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