BELLE — Nearly two years after being fired from the Maries County Sheriff’s Office, Belle Police Officer Erican Sugg has had the complaint against his law enforcement license formally dismissed by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, ending an ordeal from 2022 that began during a night out with coworkers.

On Oct. 22, 2025, the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS), through the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), voluntarily dismissed its complaint against Sugg without prejudice, closing a review that had followed him from one department to another. The dismissal ensures Sugg’s record remains clear with the state’s Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission, which certifies and regulates law enforcement officers across Missouri.

The original complaint against Sugg was filed on Oct. 20, 2022, after the AGO completed an investigation into allegations of misconduct that occurred while Sugg was employed with the Maries County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation was conducted under then-Attorney General Andrew Bailey and forwarded to DPS, which in turn sought a formal disciplinary review through the state’s Administrative Hearing Commission (AHC).

The 14-page AGO report claimed that Sugg engaged in inappropriate conduct toward a female co-worker during an off-duty birthday celebration on Jan. 29, 2022. That gathering, according to the report, included several deputies and staff from the Maries County Sheriff’s Office who met at Club Rodeo Midway in St. Robert. Attendees said alcohol was consumed throughout the evening before the group returned to Maries County on a rented party bus.

Statements from two participants — identified only by initials in the report — alleged that Sugg, who they believed was intoxicated, made unwanted advances toward one of the women, both while dancing and later while seated near her on the bus. One woman said she woke up later that night at a co-worker’s home to find Sugg seated at the end of the couch with his hand on her leg. She also claimed that afterward, Sugg made passive-aggressive remarks in the workplace and over the radio.

The allegations prompted the sheriff’s office to take action the following summer. According to department records, then Chief Deputy Scott John informed Sugg of his termination on July 20, 2022, and ordered him to return all county-issued gear, including uniforms and weapons.

The case then moved from the local department to the state level.

Citing sections §590.080 and Chapter 621 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo), DPS filed a complaint seeking to discipline Sugg’s peace officer license for alleged “moral turpitude” and “disregard for the safety of the public or a person.” Those statutes give the Administrative Hearing Commission the power to revoke or suspend a law enforcement license even when no criminal charges are filed.

Sugg, however, has consistently denied the allegations, saying he was never given a fair opportunity to respond before being fired.

“A complaint was filed alleging moral turpitude,” Sugg said. “They said I did something sexually inappropriate with a female co-worker, which is not true.”

He maintains that the sheriff’s office acted prematurely and without following required procedures.

“It is a state statute that they follow those procedures,” Sugg said. “They didn’t.”

Following months of review, DPS eventually referred the case to the Attorney General’s Office, which represents the department in disciplinary matters. The AGO filed the complaint before the Administrative Hearing Commission, initiating what would become a two-year legal and administrative process.

According to the final order issued this month, the state ultimately chose not to proceed.

“The Director of the Department of Public Safety, by and through counsel, voluntarily dismisses his complaint against respondent without prejudice,” the order reads.

The phrase “without prejudice” means the complaint was dismissed voluntarily but could technically be refiled in the future. However, such re-filings are rare and would require new evidence. For Sugg, the dismissal represents closure after years of uncertainty.

“It feels good,” he said. “I’m just glad it’s over.”

The outcome also secures Sugg’s Class B Law Enforcement License, confirming that the POST Commission found no cause to revoke or suspend it. That status allows him to remain in good standing with all state law enforcement agencies.

While the state investigation was ongoing, Sugg found support from city officials in Belle, who hired him to serve as a police officer and allowed him to continue his duties while the case was under review. He said their confidence helped him stay focused on his work.

“I greatly appreciate the support,” Sugg said.

“When I’m in this uniform, I take my job seriously,” he said.

For the city of Belle, the conclusion of the state’s complaint brings an end to an issue that lingered for nearly two years. As of this month, no further disciplinary actions or pending complaints have been filed against Sugg through the Department of Public Safety or the Attorney General’s Office.