CLEVELAND, Ohio — A special prosecutor will determine whether Councilman Joe Jones should face criminal charges after he was accused of threatening to kill a City Hall employee in May.

The investigation stems from a police report filed by a City Council staffer, who told police that Jones threatened to kill him on May 19. The employee told police he took the threat seriously and feared Jones, even though the councilman told him the next day that it was a joke.

In a statement Friday, the city confirmed that the incident has been referred to a special prosecutor for independent review. City Hall selected Marlon Primes of the Brennan, Manna and Diamond law firm.

The police report was filed Aug. 21, one week after city council released a summary of an internal investigation into the claim

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