CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Department of Agriculture is conducting an internal investigation into an physical altercation involving two department employees during an agency meeting last week at Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Jackson County.
According to Department of Agriculture spokesman Crescent Gallagher, the altercation happened after work hours in a private hotel room. WVDA employees were at Cedar Lakes last Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 11-12, to discuss food safety standards in West Virginia.
Gallagher said local law enforcement officers were contacted.
“No arrests or further actions were taken,” Gallagher told MetroNews.
The department does believe alcohol was involved. Gallagher said “it’s unclear at this time if both parties were indulging. Cedar Lakes has a no alcohol policy.”
The internal investigation is a “top priority” of the department, according to Gallagher.
“The WVDA is reviewing the details of the event to determine if further personnel action should be taken,” he said. “We take matters like this extremely seriously and have given this top priority. We will devote as much time as necessary to ensure a thorough investigation. At this time no employees have been disciplined”
Gallagher declined to say if one of the workers involved had to go to the hospital.
“We do not disclose personal health information of our employees in any fashion,” Gallagher said.