Beth Rist says she did not know assailants

A former Ironton police officer and current councilwoman reported she was the victim of an assault earlier this week.

According to a report she filed with the Ironton Police Department, Beth Rist was attacked by two men and struck in the face while she took out her garbage Monday night.

The report states that Rist was behind her residence next to an alley in the 1500 block of South Tenth Street Monday around 10:40 p.m. when the incident occurred. Rist said she was approached from behind, and that someone grabbed her left arm and then punched her in the face.

Rist said she did not know the two men and that they were wearing dark clothing.

Her injuries were a swollen bruised left eye and bruises on her left arm, according to the report.

Rist reported the incident to the police around 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Reached Wednesday, Rist said she has a “major black eye” but did not seek medical attention for the injuries.

Rist said she does not know who is responsible for the attack or if it was a random act. She said she has “a lot of enemies” and added that she has received threats after she rode in a limousine during the Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade.

Alternatively, Rist theorized that the attack could have occurred because she happened onto to the two men as they were attempting to burglarize another home, she said.

Rist, who has picked up petitions to run for mayor, has been in an ongoing legal battle with the City of Ironton following her termination from her job as police sergeant when she pleaded guilty to falsifying a traffic ticket.