Police Investigate Violent and Drunken Altercation Between Upstate New York Mayors at Country Club

Mayor Jeffrey Lanigan

A dispute between the current and former mayors of Rome, New York, is now the subject of a criminal investigation following conflicting reports of an altercation at a local country club.

The incident occurred Tuesday evening in the parking lot of Teugega Country Club, just outside the city of Rome and about 40 miles east of Syracuse. According to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, a complaint was filed involving current Mayor Jeffrey Lanigan and his predecessor, former Mayor Jim Brown. Both men are members of the Republican Party and once considered political allies.

Former Mayor Brown, who led the city for two terms, claims the confrontation turned violent after he was blindsided by Lanigan.

“I was speaking to someone, and before I could even react, he came up and slammed me into a car. Just boom—no warning,” Brown told CNY Central. He alleges Lanigan then told him, “We don’t want you here,” repeating the phrase twice. Brown says he sustained injuries to his arm that required treatment at a local hospital.

In a separate statement, Brown described being "body-slammed" without provocation. “I didn’t see him coming. He caught me completely off guard.”

Brown believes the attack was motivated by recent political criticism he made against Lanigan during a local radio appearance the day before the altercation. He had spent Tuesday golfing at the club and said the confrontation occurred as he was heading to his car.

The Oneida County Sheriff's Office confirmed that deputies are reviewing surveillance footage from the country club’s parking lot.

“We are in the process of collecting potential video evidence and witness statements,” Sheriff Robert Maciol said.

Mayor Lanigan has offered a starkly different account. In a statement from his office, Lanigan denied any physical aggression and claimed Brown was visibly intoxicated at the time.

“Mayor Lanigan simply placed a hand on Mr. Brown’s shoulder to get his attention,” the statement said. “Mr. Brown then became verbally hostile and flailed his arms.”

The statement further asserted that Lanigan was acting out of concern, saying,

“Recognizing Mr. Brown’s intoxicated state, the mayor guided him to his designated driver’s vehicle for his own safety. No physical assault occurred.”

Brown, however, called Lanigan’s version of events “a complete lie.” He insists the mayor attacked him without justification. “I wasn’t drunk. I was blindsided,” Brown said. “He knows what he did.”

Mayor Lanigan responded to the accusations with frustration, stating, “I’m disappointed in Mr. Brown’s recent public outbursts.”

No charges have been filed, but officials say the investigation is moving swiftly.

“We expect to conclude our investigation shortly and will be forwarding our findings to the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office for review,” Sheriff Maciol said.

Police Investigate Violent and Drunken Altercation Between Upstate New York Mayors at Country Club