At a preliminary hearing in Detroit Thursday, Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner was bound over for trial on one felony count of resisting and obstructing the police and disorderly conduct. In state trial court Judge Ronald Giles, however, dismissed a second felony count for resisting and obstructing the police, meaning prosecutors did not have probable cause to file the charge.
The case stems from a March 6 incident when the controller and her husband, Khari Mosley, were involved in a confrontation with Detroit police. The couple was staying at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit, and Mosley allegedly grew belligerent when hotel staff would not allow him up to a room registered only in his wife’s name.
Hotel personnel called the police, who found a reportedly intoxicated Mosley "gesturing and speaking loudly in a confrontational manner,” according to a statement from Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy.
The statement said police brought Mosley up to the room where he and Wagner were staying. The officers started to leave, but then the statement said, "they heard a loud noise and shouting inside the room" which "caused them to return."
Hotel staff then decided Mosley had to leave, and police put him in handcuffs and led him to an elevator. Wagner blocked the elevator, where, according to the statement, she grabbed and pushed an officer before falling to the floor.
Wagner and police all took video of the incident. The footage is likely to play a significant role if the case continues to trial.
Wagner, who has been in her position as fiscal watchdog for the county for the past seven years, is scheduled to appear for an arraignment on the information April 25. The proceeding is meant to inform defendants of the allegations against them and possible sentences.
Mosley faces two misdemeanor charges, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.
His final pre-trial conference is set for April 25.
