Riverton mayoral candidate accuses councilmember of assault, city finds no evidence

RIVERTON, Utah (ABC4) — Accusations have surfaced surrounding an incident that took place between a Riverton resident and a city councilmember.

On Friday, Oct. 24, in a social media post,

Riverton City Councilmember Tawnee McCay accused a fellow councilmember, later identified as Troy McDougal, of a “shocking assault” against a female resident outside city hall.

ABC4.com spoke with both leaders who each shared their accounts of the incident.

Councilmember McCay’s account

“After the Oct. 7th council meeting, there was a shocking assault by a male council member against a female Riverton resident on city property,” Councilmember McCay said weeks after the alleged incident. “This is inappropriate behavior by a city employee and person in authority.”

Councilmember McCay says the incident included “yelling, name calling, finger pointing, and insulting,” calling on other officials to investigate. However, Riverton City says no complaint was ever filed with the police department.

In a statement, Riverton City says it responded by launching an administrative investigation into the incident and found no evidence to suggest an assault ever occurred.

Councilmember McDougal’s account

In an exclusive interview, Councilmember Troy McDougal told ABC4.com a different story.

“I was ambushed,” he said.

According to McDougal, the female resident approached him after a city council meeting while on the phone with McCay.

“When I turned around, she basically put the phone in my face, and both proceeded to yell at me,” McDougal said. “Hang up, I’m done with this.”

“I yelled back. I wish I hadn’t,” McDougal told ABC4.com. “I was just frustrated that she basically blindsided me.”

McDougal says the resident eventually hung up the phone. “We then proceeded to talk for about an hour,” he said. “After that it was just a discussion.”

According to McDougal, the resident was upset with him because he did not endorse McCay for mayor.

Heated mayoral race

Tensions have risen in recent weeks surrounding Riverton’s mayoral election which will be held in just one week on Nov. 4, 2025.

Several candidates initially filed following current Mayor Trent Staggs’ announcement that he would not be seeking reelection. Shortly after his announcement, Staggs further announced he had been appointed as a regional advocate by the Trump administration.

Now, just two candidates remain to fill his seat: Councilmember McCay and fellow-Riverton Councilmember Tish Buroker.

McDougal says while he also filed for candidacy but soon dropped out of the race due to an immediate family member receiving a cancer diagnosis. He then endorsed Buroker for mayor. He says his endorsement, upset McCay’s husband, Daniel McCay, a senator in the Utah State Legislature.

“I told him I thought Tish had a better vision for what Riverton should be,” McDougal said. “Her husband got angry with me.”

ABC4.com reached out to Sen. McCay who says he hasn’t spoken with McDougal in two years.

McDougal says he differs from Councilmember McCay on issues like rezoning to support high-density housing, something he says he’s against. He added that the two haven’t spoken since the incident.

In a statement to ABC4.com, Councilmember McCay said a citizen reported the incident. “Based on the resident’s account, I felt it was important to support her.”

“City staff reviewed the video of the incident but didn’t share it with the resident. I was disappointed with the city’s response and lack of transparency,” McCay added.

ABC4.com has filed a records request for video footage of the Oct. 7 incident.