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GREENSBORO — Three Greensboro police officers have been suspended with pay after being accused of assault. Criminal and administrative investigations are under way, police Chief Tim Bellamy said in a news release Tuesday night.

An assistant city attorney said the alleged victim was a city employee.

The police department identified the suspended officers as Sgt. A.S. Wallace, 43, and officers J.O. LeGrand, 37, and C.S. Stevens, 42.

Bellamy declined to provide details of the assault allegation when asked during a break at the City Council meeting Tuesday night.

Attorney William Hill, who represents the Greensboro Police Officers Association, said Tuesday night he was made aware of the allegations that afternoon, but he couldn't elaborate.

"I don't know a whole lot about it," Hill said. "I have spoken with the officers, and they deny any wrongdoing. We will let the investigative process run its course."

The News & Record made a verbal public records request Tuesday night with the police department and the city attorney's office, asking for the time, date, place and nature of the alleged incident.

In response, the police department instead provided the officers' names, ages, salaries and length of service.

Assistant City Attorney Becky Jo Peterson-Buie said the city could not comment because everyone involved in the incident — including the victim — are city employees. That makes the incident a personnel issue, she said.

Lt. U.H. Newkirk, the police department's public information officer, did not return telephone messages seeking comment Tuesday night.

All three officers are assigned to the Investigative Support Division's Tactical Special Enforcement Team. The team works to suppress a variety of criminal activity, including street-level drug sales and other activities associated with violent crime, the police Web site says.

Wallace has been with the department since 1999 and was promoted to sergeant in March, according to a news release. Stevens was hired in April 1998, and LeGrand was hired in June 2001.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com

Contact Margaret Moffett Banks at 373-7031 or margaret.banks@news-record.com