Family satisfied with police investigation into Montgomery Inn assault

In response to the speculation about corruption and favoritism surrounding an assault last month at Montgomery Inn, the family said through their lawyer Wednesday they have no concerns about the investigation.

A cell phone video went viral last week showing Doug and Lois Morrow knocked down in the parking lot of the restaurant as a confrontation roared around them.

Police confirmed they are investigating the June 22 incident and said Wednesday the investigation is still ongoing.

Speculation started when the news broke that the fight involved the family of Steve Raleigh , a WCPO weatherman and son-in-law of former prosecutor and sheriff Simon Leis Jr.

Connie Pillich, the Democratic challenger to Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers, issued a statement Wednesday morning asking "why hasn't the politically connected suspect been charged?"

Pillich said it's been nearly a month since the attack and pointed to the Raleigh's family "deep connections to the local Republican Party." She called on state ethics officials to investigate why Powers has not pursued justice for the Morrows.

More: Family involved in alleged assault with WCPO weatherman's family tells their side of story

Attorney Konrad Kircher, who is representing the Morrow family, said his clients do not agree with Pillich's concerns.

"We are satisfied with the progress of the police investigation," Kircher said Tuesday.

In response to Pillich's statement, Powers said nothing hurts your chances of achieving justice more than a rushed or incomplete investigation. She said it could lead to innocent people getting charged or guilty people going free.

"The idea that a prosecutor should be pressuring the police to bring charges on anyone before they have completed their investigation is, quite frankly, offensive," Powers said. "It reveals a profound ignorance of how our justice system works."

Merlyn Shiverdecker, a lawyer representing the Raleigh family, echoed Powers. In a statement, he said Pillich's comments showed a lack of knowledge about the criminal justice system and the role of the prosecutor.

"Ms. Pillich's statement appears to be nothing more than a political stunt and an attempt to make political hay in an election year out of a very unfortunate incident," Shiverdecker wrote. "The Cincinnati Police Department is attempting to conduct a thorough investigation. Let them do their job. Vituperous personal accusations serve no useful purpose."

Cincinnati police have issued several statements regarding the case. Officers responded to the Montgomery Inn for a report of a large crowd fighting.

The Morrows said they were at the restaurant to pick up their son who works there. He had cut himself during his shift. While they were leaving, their vehicle was struck.

According to a crash report filed with Cincinnati police, a relative of WCPO meteorologist Steve Raleigh was driving a black Cadillac Escalade in the Boathouse parking lot when he hit the Morrows' white Ford F-150 after failing to yield to oncoming traffic.

The family said Steve Raleigh came out of the restaurant and told Doug Morrow not to call police over the crash – which Doug Morrow did anyway. The family said the suspect then punched the son in the head and attacked his parents.

Kircher said during a press conference he expects the police investigation to wrap up in the next week.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Family satisfied with police investigation into Montgomery Inn assault