The Ohio Attorney General’s Office has been asked to investigate an alleged domestic dispute that included the Clark County sheriff and two of his employees.

Clark County Prosecutor Andy Wilson contacted the Attorney General’s Office after a situation involving Sheriff Gene Kelly at the Stone Crossing apartment complex on Dwight Road on Monday afternoon. No arrests were made, nor were charges filed. However, the incident did involve county employees during hours of employment, according to the sheriff’s office.

Kelly told the Springfield News-Sun on Wednesday that he asked for an independent review of the incident, which involved the response of several high-ranking deputies.

Because of a potential conflict of interest by the prosecutor’s office, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation will handle the matter, said Bill Schenck, senior adviser to the Ohio Attorney General.

According to a Clark County Sheriff’s Office incident report obtained by the News-Sun, Sgt. Michael Young was contacted by Sheriff’s Sgt. Ralph Underwood about what Underwood called “a domestic disturbance” involving Sheriff Kelly, his wife, Michele, and Pam Underwood, the sergeant’s ex-wife as well as a sheriff’s office employee, at Stone Crossing apartment complex at 2880 Dwight Road.

Young, who said he was in the area and concerned about the situation, reportedly responded to the scene while contacting his supervisors via phone.

Young found Michele Kelly in a pickup truck along with a 6-year-old boy. After Young called for backup, he reported that Michele Kelly believed Sheriff Kelly and Pam Underwood were inside a nearby apartment. According to the report, Michele Kelly began to walk toward an apartment, where Sheriff Kelly emerged, followed by Pam Underwood.

A verbal commotion ensued between Pam Underwood and Michele Kelly, according to the report. However, neither woman told deputies they felt threatened.

“I had concern for this volatile situation because I observed Sheriff Kelly in uniform and I was aware that he had a firearm, and I could hear Michele yelling at a high pitch at Pam Underwood,” Young stated in his report, who added that Sheriff Kelly unsuccessfully tried to calm his wife.

Sgt. Underwood arrived and began to argue with the sheriff, according to the report. Several supervisors, including Lt. Dustin White and Capt. Jonathan Holmes, were called to assist.

Young stated that Sheriff Kelly asked him if he would submit a report to document the incident. When Young replied that he would, Sheriff Kelly reportedly asked why. Young said it was required in a domestic dispute.

Neither of the Underwoods returned calls or were available for comment Wednesday.

Sheriff Kelly, who ran unopposed and was re-elected Tuesday, told the News-Sun that he contacted the prosecutor’s office to review the incident, which he described as a “sickening event.”

“I have honestly stepped back. Not talking to anybody about it,” he said.

In a submitted statement, Sheriff Kelly wrote, “It is my understanding no crime has even been alleged, yet I have recused myself from this matter and have placed it in the hands of the Clark County prosecutor for review. While I cannot speak further on this matter until Mr. Wilson completes his review, I can say that, unfortunately, my wife and I have had some difficult times recently.”

“Today I am focusing my attention on my family and on continuing to faithfully serve the people of Clark County,” the sheriff’s statement read.

Because the incident involved public officials, Schenck said it warrants investigation to ensure no criminal statutes or departmental policies were violated. That the incident occurred within Springfield city limits but local officers were not contacted, and that protocols requiring deputies to use dispatch to report and respond to incidents were not used both will be part of the investigation, Schenck confirmed.

“(We’ll) interview the parties, see whether or not if there was any violation of the law, what really happened here (and) did it occur on county time,” Schenck said.

Kelly confirmed both Sgts. Underwood and Young were on duty at the time of the incident. However, calls to their supervisor to verify their specific duties at the time of the incident were not returned.

The state is awaiting a formal written request from the prosecutor’s office before opening the investigation, Schenck said.

“The matter sounds like it is just a very sticky, messy sort of personal situation that occurred. Unfortunately, it involved public officials and public employees, and as you know when that happens, whether we like it or not, it demands more scrutiny,” Schenck said.

The sheriff said both Underwoods remain “tenured employees” of his office, and no disciplinary action has been taken.