NELSONVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) — Rita Nguyen could still be heard protesting down the hallway after she was arrested Monday at a Nelsonville City Council meeting. 

Within the first few minutes of the meeting, Nguyen interrupted the appointment of two new councilmembers, saying she had a responsibility to inform the public about them. As she tried to voice concerns about the candidates, council called for order, but she continued protesting and was placed under arrest.

Police Chief Devon Tolliver said Nguyen received one charge of disrupting a lawful meeting and was held briefly at the Nelsonville Police Department before heading home with a court summons. 

A chaotic city council meeting is not extraordinary in Nelsonville. Tolliver is also acting city manager, as his predecessor quit in March after nearly eight months of administrative leave as he was investigated for misconduct allegations. Nguyen, a former councilwoman herself, has been involved in much – but not all – of the infighting, lawsuits and confusion surrounding the governing body over the past few years.

Years of commotion inspired a ballot initiative to repeal the city charter and replace Nelsonville’s government last November, which passed with 70% of the vote. No other Ohio city has repealed its charter. Nelsonville officials placed a more specific replacement initiative on the ballot this May. The day after councilmembers approved the May issue, two councilmembers resigned, leaving the vacancies Nguyen tried to contest. See previous coverage of the November ballot issue in the video player above.

“The two seats that are available do not belong to them,” Nguyen called out Monday night as council requested order.  

Watch: Former councilmember arrested at meeting

Nguyen does not believe two of the seven total council seats are held lawfully, asserting she should still be on council. In February 2024, she was serving as council president and resigned temporarily, rescinding her resignation within 24 hours. After two months of uncertainty as to who was on council, Nguyen was ousted alongside Carol Powell, who Nguyen had appointed to council.

Powell and Nguyen sued city council members to determine who was lawfully on council. A lower court ruled against Nguyen and Powell, but the Ohio Supreme Court dismissed the lower court’s ruling. Nevertheless, the pair voluntarily dismissed their lawsuit in March.

Nguyen asserts current Councilmember Opha Lawson’s seat and the vacant seat now held by new appointee Nic Joseph Saul are both illegitimate and should belong to Nguyen and Powell. Although the court case was dismissed, a petition filed with the court to reinstate them is still in play.

Nguyen’s concern over the seats’ rightful owner was not her only complaint, however. As Tolliver attempted to place Nguyen under arrest, she resisted, at one point yelling out, “People with felonies are not allowed to serve on council.”

Nguyen’s comment referred to Cameron Peck, who filled the second vacant seat. In 2020, Peck pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and conspiracy, a third-degree felony. According to court documents, Peck unlawfully used meth and sold narcotics. He is nearing the end of his five-year probation for the crimes.

Under Ohio law, people convicted of a felony relating to election laws, fraud, theft or deceit are not eligible for elected office. Conspiracy does not automatically fall under those topics, but it can. Nelsonville City Attorney Jonathan Robe said he is looking into whether Peck’s background disqualifies him from office.

Peck told NBC4 he sees his background as a positive, saying it shows he has the drive to work hard to help himself and Nelsonville residents. Peck explained his addiction grew after a Lancaster doctor prescribed him, a 16-year-old athlete recovering from shoulder surgery, Percocet. After his arrest, he bought tools and learned how to use them, working his way through construction and manufacturing jobs.

Peck said he now works as a junior member of an engineering department, the only team in the U.S. who makes the parts he helps create. He said his background raised a number of questions about the legal system that he wants to help Nelsonville residents work through. He said his experiences show he can work hard and overcome, and he wants to do that for the people of Nelsonville.

“I come from a community where no one has a son or cousin that doesn’t share my background,” Peck said. “Should the council ask me to leave I will create no more problems for my colleagues. There are things they need to do and I don’t want to distract them, I want to work.”

Robe said it may take some time to determine if Peck’s former charges would complicate his candidacy. City Council will meet next on April 28 at 7 p.m., the last meeting before citizens will vote on the new ordinance to abolish the city’s governing charter.