City Councilman Calls for FBI to Investigate Columbia Police

Columbia City councilman Moe Baddourah is asking for fellow council members to join together and make an appeal to the FBI to begin an investigation into the allegations of a plot to plant drugs and a gun in a car of a city official.

In an email to city manager Teresa Wilson and other members of council, Baddourah said "a request for FBI involvement seems reasonable if it gives people an additional level of comfort."

The request comes after former Columbia Police captain David Navarro reported an alleged plot by interim Police Chief Ruben Santiago to plant a stolen gun and cocaine in Assistant City Manager S. Allison Baker's car.

Navarro said he was fired from the department when he reported the scheme to SLED.

Santiago has denied Navarro's allegations and has since filed a defamation lawsuit.

City officials said earlier this week that Navarro was fired for "secret or unauthorized recordings" of a conversation between he and Santiago — an act that violates city policy — insubordination to a supervisor and "criticism and malicious gossip."

Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin and Santiago requested SLED's help in investigating the claims made by Navarro. 


In a message posted on his Facebook account, Benjamin said:

"It is absolutely critical for law enforcement to have the trust of the people they are sworn to serve and protect. For that reason, I have asked SLED to fully investigate the claims Dave Navarro has made in his affidavits to determine whether there is any evidence supporting his allegations."

Read Baddourah's full email below:

To: City Manager and Fellow Council Members

As you're aware, it has been suggested that the City appeal to the FBI to investigate the allegations involving the police department.

Out of an abundance of caution, I strongly propose that we take this course of action.

Regardless of what becomes of the SLED investigation, the people of Columbia must be able to have the peace of mind that any investigation is thorough and objective. While it's not my intent to question the ability of SLED to investigate this matter, those questions have been raised -- including some from our constituents.

Therefore, a request for FBI involvement seems reasonable if it gives people an additional level of comfort.

I am certainly prepared to contact the FBI to at least make sure it is apprised of the situation, but I believe it'd make a stronger statement if we were to make a request as a Council.


This story was published:  July 19, 2013 at 03:36 pm; Updated at 5:32 p.m.