An Ironton City Councilwoman and former police officer denies the allegations levied against her in a civil stalking protection order that was filed by a woman who says she fears for her safety.

In the protection order filed Friday in the Lawrence County Clerk of Court’s Office, Melissa Arbaugh, 43, alleges that, “Beth Rist has been contacting my friends and workplace making threats toward me. She has attempted to get me terminated at KDMC and this has caused me to be emotionally and fearful (sic) for my well-being and livelihood. She has contacted my friends making threats toward myself.”

Arbaugh also wrote in her statement that, “She (Rist) has coerced some of her friends into slandering my name and reputation on Topix. I have voicemails and also copies of postings on Topix that have been addressed to me and my family.”

The restraining order requires Rist to refrain from going near the victim or her family, either at home, her place of work, or other places. It further prohibits Rist from contacting, stalking, threatening or harming Arbaugh and her family. The protection order prohibits Rist from obtaining or carrying any deadly weapon.

Contacted Saturday, Arbaugh said she had hoped to keep the matter from becoming public but said she filed the protection order because she had no other choice.

“I just wanted her to leave me alone,” Arbaugh said.

The Tribune also contacted Rist Saturday. She denied stalking or harassing Arbaugh. Rist said she and Arbaugh were friends for two years until March when she kicked Arbaugh out of her house. Rist said she thought Arbaugh had done this to keep her from being able to carry a gun and continue with police work.

She was fired from the Ironton Police Department in 2008 but is on the roster at the Chesapeake Police Department to keep her certification until her pending federal lawsuit against the city of Ironton is settled. Rist denied calling Arbaugh and said Arbaugh had actually been calling her, not the other way around.

“Do you think after all I’ve been through, I would ever threaten anybody and risk whatever I’ve got left?” Rist asked.

Rist alleged that Arbaugh was trying to stir up trouble for her.

“Do you think I would want to stir up more stuff so I could be in the paper again?” Rist asked.

Rist said she had actually considered filing a civil protection order against Arbaugh but that she had told Arbaugh her plans and Arbaugh had beaten her to it.

A hearing on the matter is set for a hearing in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court Friday morning.

Rist has been in the spotlight for years as she has fought with the city over what she alleges was wrongful termination from the police force and has also announced her plan to run for mayor this November.

Last week, Rist told police she was assaulted by two men in the alley outside her home in the 1500 block of South 10th Street. She said two men wearing dark clothing accosted her as she took out her trash. She said she did not know who the men were.