After appointing a new Citizens Police Review Board member Monday, the City Council discovered the new member was recently arrested on suspicion of child molestation.

Former review board member John McClure departed in August for a new job in Chicago, leaving a space open on the board. The council appointed Merwyn Alexander, a 58-year-old State Farm claims adjuster, by a 4-3 vote during the meeting.

Third Ward Councilman Gary Kespohl said the council did not hear of Alexander’s weekend arrest until after the vote.

“Councilman (Jason) Thornhill was researching a planning and zoning issue after we approved Mr. Alexander for the position,” Kespohl said. “He was on Google and he clicked the wrong shortcut and went to the KMIZ-17 website. The feature story on that day was the arrest and the bail posed for Mr. Alexander in the alleged child molestation.”

Columbia Police Department spokeswoman Latisha Stroer said Alexander was arrested at 6:40 p.m. Sept. 30.

“At 9:48 a.m., officers were dispatched to a sexual assault report of a 16-year-old boy who advised he was assaulted by Merwyn Alexander when he was 10 or 11 years old,” Stroer said.

Kespohl said Thornhill saw the picture and passed his iPad down for Kespohl to see.

“When (City Manager) Mike Matthes saw it, he said we need to reconsider because the council needs this information,” Kespohl said.

Stroer said the victim told his mother at the time of the alleged incident, but it was not reported to police until last week.

Per city ordinances, CPD Chief Ken Burton is required to run a background check on all potential board members, but the check was performed before Alexander’s arrest.

“The chief did his background check and we get our packet on Thursday evening or Friday morning,” Kespohl said. “The chief did his job, and there were only a couple speeding tickets in the background check. We’re looking for criminal things, and there was nothing criminal in there.”

Mayor Bob McDavid recommended the council vacate the decision and leave the position open for a period of time.

Kespohl said the position will be left open for now until something is resolved in the case.

“It depends on how long the court case takes, if there is one,” Kespohl said. “We can’t leave the position open forever waiting for him. We’ll leave it open for a period of time, and if these claims are found to not be true, he will assume the position.”

According to Missouri court records, Alexander is free on $10,000 bond and has not been charged as of Thursday.

Kespohl said he sees no urgency in filling the position at the next City Council meeting.

“There are other candidates and other applications that would like to fill the position, but I think we owe him the benefit of the doubt,” Kespohl said. “I was as surprised as anyone else to see it. I think Mr. Matthes was correct in having us back up, hold off and look to see if this charge is true or not.”

According to Missouri law, first-degree child molestation is a Class A felony in the case of a child under 12 years old.