The president of the Omaha Firefighters Union has been cited for the alleged assault of a woman following an incident last November at Tiger Tom's bar.
City Prosecutor Matt Kuhse says after a thorough review of the details in the investigation his office has instructed the Omaha Police Department to issue Steve LeClair a criminal citation for Assault and Battery and Disorderly Conduct. "In reviewing the evidence and circumstances of this incident, these are the appropriate charges to pursue," Kuhse says.
Assault and Battery and Disorderly Conduct are both misdemeanors and punishable by up to six months in jail, a five hundred dollar fine or both.
The incident happened November 9th. A woman alleged that LeClair approached her several times and punched her in the back after she told him to leave her alone. She says the force of the punch pushed her forward out of her chair. LeClair was then escorted from the bar.
He was placed on administrative leave Dec. 21 and has denied the allegations. "The person alleging this is either confused or not being truthful. Once the investigations, which I am cooperating with, have concluded, I’m confident I will be cleared and back to work doing what I have done my entire career; responding to our citizens most in need.”
The citation was issued by Omaha Police on Friday. LeClair is scheduled for arraignment in March where he will be formally charged.
Mayor Jean Stothert and Fire Chief Dan Olsen issued this statement regarding the citations. "The City Prosecutor’s charging decision is a result of the conclusion of the Omaha Police investigation. It is separate from the internal investigation by the Human Resources Department and Omaha Fire Department Internal Affairs. The internal investigation started in December and was suspended when the police report was filed in January. It will now resume. Mr. LeClair will remain on paid administrative leave pending the completion of the internal investigation."