ST. LOUIS—For the third time in the last month, a St. Louis resident is taking St. Louis Sheriff Alfred Montgomery to court. The latest lawsuit comes from the acting Commissioner of Corrections, Tammy Ross. She is suing Montgomery, accusing him of false arrested and imprisonment, battery and violating her civil rights.

Spectrum News called Montgomery's attorney, but the call went unanswered and the voice mailbox was full.

What You Need To Know

  • The acting Commissioner of Corrections, Tammy Ross, is suing Montgomery for allegedly false arrest and imprisonment, battery and violating her civil rights

  • Per Ross's lawsuit, Montgomery arrested and detained her after she refused a request for the Sheriff to interview a Justice Center detainee about a sexual assault allegation against a sheriff's deputy

  • Ross claims she suffered serious and permanent injuries because of the arrest

  • Montgomery faces summons in two lawsuits and a March 26 court date for another lawsuit

Ross states in court records that Sheriff Montgomery and several deputies requested on Feb. 13 and Feb. 14 to interview one of her detainees. The interview would be over the detainee’s allegation that a sheriff’s deputy committed sexual assault. The FBI is also investigating the sexual assault claim. On both attempts to interview the detainee, Ross informed Montgomery that she needed approval from the City of St. Louis Legal Department and its Public Safety Department before he could proceed.

She said he still insisted on seeing the detainee, to which she refused. In the lawsuit, Ross alleges Montgomery indicated she was “in contempt” and had a deputy sheriff handcuff her.

Within the Count II Battery section of the lawsuit, Ross alleges Montgomery placed his hands on her back to block her from moving freely. Ross claims she suffered serious and permanent injuries because of the battery. The record said she was taken to the Sheriff’s Office in the Carnahan Court House.

“The arrest of Deputy Commissioner Ross was made without legal justification and without a warrant,” stated Ross’s lawyer, Joesph V. Neill, in the lawsuit. “She was not engaged in criminal activity of a nature to warrant her seizure and detention without reasonable suspicion, the unlawful force used against her…”

The lawsuit mentions while detained, Montgomery made several threatening statements to Ross including he’d detain her for 48 hours. Neill also claims during Ross’s detainment, Montgomery spoke to Charles Coyle, the Director of the Department of Public Safety. They discussed the legality of Montgomery’s authority to arrest, handcuff and detain Ross, to which Montgomery affirmed he did. Coyle asked Montgomery to put that affirmation in writing and Montgomery responded it was not his job to do so, according to the lawsuit. While being detained, Ross reports Blake Lawrence, Montgomery’s attorney, whispered in his ear and she was shortly thereafter released.

When it comes to the counts of False Arrest/Imprisonment and for the violation of Civil Rights, Ross is seeking a judgement against Montgomery covering costs of her court action and attorney bills; “as well as any further relief the court deems justified,” according to the lawsuit. She also seeks compensatory damages deemed “fair and reasonable” by the court for the battery count.

Now, Montgomery is facing a summons for this suit involving Ross and another for a defamation suit filed by filed by Anthony Kirchner, as we previously reported on.


There is also a March 26 court date for a lawsuit filed by Joesph Neill, a former 12-year employee of the Sheriff’s Office, who accused Montgomery of not paying due wages.

Montgomery was elected to take over as Sheriff for the City of Saint Louis in 2024 after he beat Vernon Betts during the primary and Joy Denise Dabney in the November 2024 general election. Montgomery was sworn in on January 1, 2025.