The mayor of Rome, New York, Jeffrey Lanigan denies that he attacked his allegedly ‘intoxicated’ predecessor Jim Brown during a country club function

Authorities are investigating an alleged drunken country club brawl between a former upstate New York mayor and his predecessor, with one claiming he was “body-slammed” into a car.

Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol confirmed to the Daily Sentinel Wednesday that his office took a complaint regarding a clash between Rome Mayor Jeffrey Lanigan and his predecessor, Jim Brown, in the parking lot of Teugega Country Club on Tuesday evening. The city of Rome is located 40 miles east of Syracuse.

The two men, who were once close friends, have given drastically different accounts of the alleged altercation.

Brown, a Republican who served two terms as Rome’s mayor, claimed that Lanigan assaulted him, which left him with a bloody injury to his arm that had to be treated at a local hospital. Brown argued that the attack was politically motivated, stemming from his criticism of Lanigan in a radio appearance Monday. Prior to the altercation, Brown had spent the day golfing at the club.

“I'm talking to an individual straight like that, ok, and then all of a sudden, I didn't have time. He (Langian) comes over and body blocks me right into the side of the car. Just boom,” he told CNY Central.