EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this report contained an inaccurate headline. A complaint was filed against Richie McAlister. He was not charged with a crime.

A local man accused the City of Meridian’s chief administrative officer of assaulting him on Wednesday morning, but Mayor Percy Bland says the allegation is false.

Bland confirmed that a complaint had been made against CAO Richie McAlister, but as of Wednesday afternoon, McAlister had not been formally charged.

Charles Kimbrough said McAlister punched him in the right shoulder after a disagreement over a water bill at city hall.

According to a statement from Bland, “Charles Kimbrough, an unsuccessful Libertarian Candidate for Ward [5] in the 2017 Election, came to City Hall this morning to protest a water bill.

“While at City Hall, Mr. Kimbrough alleged that he was touched by a City Employee. This never happened, and we have a witness that will testify to that fact.”

McAlister also denied the accusation.

On Wednesday afternoon, McAlister filed a complaint against Kimbrough, who turned himself in on Wednesday afternoon. Kimbrough is charged with disturbing a business.

McAlister wrote in a statement that after the meeting, he walked away and Kimbrough began hitting the wall in the hallway, shouting “quit hitting me.”

“While he was making these comments I was approximately 10 [feet] away from him, in full view of [Executive Secretary Callie Donwell],” McAlister wrote. “… I never touched Mr. Kimbrough nor did he ever make contact with me.”

Meridian Police spokesman Sgt. Dareall Thompson said the affidavits filed by McAlister and Kimbrough were not available for release at the time of this report.