Martins Ferry resident Greg Roby asks city council about the status of the investigation against two city police officers that he filed a report on. T-L Photo/ GAGE VOTA

MARTINS FERRY — A Martins Ferry resident — who had claimed two city police officers had committed multiple infractions while handling an incident involving two juveniles — went before Martins Ferry City Council on Wednesday evening inquiring about the status of the investigation into those two officers.

Greg Roby said that he has been coming to the council meetings for the past three months seeking answers about the status of an investigation of Officers John Young and Zach Cole, who responded to the incident, where one female juvenile was accused of hitting another female juvenile with a rock. Roby alleged racial bias among the infractions he accused Young and Cole of committing.

“I want to see if we can get answers to this situation. Where is the reports?” Roby asked council.

He added that he has asked Police Chief Jerry Murphy for the public records and was then told that he is under investigation.

Council president Kristine Davis interjected, informing Roby that, from her understanding, the matter is still under investigation, so council is not able to discuss it in a public forum.

“So what I want to know is what happened to the investigation of the officers.” Roby replied to Davis. “There was supposed to be an investigation. I filed two complaints against officers, and I was told that they would be investigated.”

At the June 20 Martins Ferry City Council meeting, Roby asked why the gate to the basketball courts at City Park was locked and if it could be unlocked. Mayor John Davies and Service/Safety Director Andy Sutak responded that the courts were closed for safety reasons due to damaged equipment. They added that the youths who use the courts tend to toss garbage around the park and have painted graffiti on some of the facilities there.

Following that meeting, Roby was present at the park, monitoring the children playing basketball and ensuring that they were picking up trash at the adjacent park and not getting into mischief.

He also implemented an 8:30 p.m. curfew, and Davies said kids are no longer using the park later at night than that.

Roby asked council why nobody will provide him information on the investigation into the officers and said that he still doesn’t understand the reason that he’s being investigated. He then gestured to a child that was in attendance with his parent and alleged that the child is being told to not interact with Roby and that he is a victim of Roby.

“It’s not fair, and you guys are our representatives. That’s the only reason why I’m here. You guys are representatives,” Roby told council. “Can we get an answer or an apology? If there’s an investigation, is it by the Martins Ferry police station, or is it by a certain cop?”

He added that he is tired of dealing with the situation and would like a reason as to why he is being investigated. Roby previously said that he believes he is being targeted.

During Wednesday’s council meeting, Roby reinforced his belief that he is being targeted. He said that he is the only resident that has been removed from the park by the police and doesn’t understand why he would be the only resident escorted out of the park.

Roby then asked council if one of its members could apologize to the child who was allegedly told was a victim of Roby.

During the July 16 council meeting, Roby claimed he was being investigated for gambling with children because he plays a dice game with them called “The Blessings Game” and often gives his own money to children and their parents.

Davis replied that none of the council members were present during the incident so the council doesn’t truly know what occurred during the date of the incident.

Roby then turned to Murphy and asked him for an apology.

Murphy replied that he has informed him multiple times that the matter is still being investigated and will let him know when the investigation concludes.

“I’m looking into the matter of your complaint, and in reference to the investigations against you, I told you I would look into it, and once that is resolved, your public records request will be filled,” Murphy said.

Davies then said that he believes this whole matter needs to be resolved, adding that it’s been a dark cloud over the city for the past few months.

“I want it done as quickly as possible. If we can get it done as quickly as possible and as thoroughly as possible. It’d be a great thing. Get this thing put behind the city and Mr. Roby,” Davies said.

Council also heard from Mental Health and Recovery Board Executive Director Lisa Ward.

Ward said that she was at the meeting to inform council of a 1.25 mill renewal levy that will be on the ballot in November.

She said that the renewal levy will not raise any taxes and is from a replacement with reduction levy that was put in place in 2015. If passed, the levy renewal will last for another 10 years and will fund the Educational Services Center through Student Services in every school within Belmont County.

Ward said that the levy will also fund the ability for the board to provide mental health and substance abuse prevention services for adults. “Unfortunately, I would like to stand here and be able to tell you that we don’t need prevention, but in Belmont County, we have had an increase in our suicide rates from ’23 – ’24 it was up by 4% and from ’24 – ’25 ,” Ward said. “Right now, the rates are going to triple, and that’s very concerning. So these prevention services that we support are very important.”

Davis thanked Ward for speaking at the meeting and informed her that the entire council was in support of the levy renewal.