A Harrisville councilwoman whose seat was nearly filled erroneously in January was removed from a borough council meeting in handcuffs Monday evening.

Mary Ann Hughes spoke during the public comment section of the meeting in an effort to answer some questions she had been asked by residents about recent news coverage.

However, after running out of time and refusing to stop speaking, she was detained by borough police and removed from the meeting. Hughes said she had been interrupted and requested an additional 30 seconds.

The Butler Eagle on Sunday published an article about Hughes’ effort to be sworn in before her seat was almost accidentally filled. Due to a switch-up with Harmony, Hughes did not receive her election certificate and believed she lost the race.

In January, she saw a notice on the borough office door that stated there would be a special meeting to fill a vacant council seat. She decided to contact Butler County officials about the election and learned she won.

Butler County Bureau of Elections reached out to Harrisville to inform the borough of the situation, but Council President April Anschutz said Hughes previously stated “via email, social media and a handwritten letter that (Hughes) was no longer serving on council, as they are now just a resident.”

Hughes ultimately was able to acquire her certificate and get sworn in before her seat could be filled. Hughes has said the letter did not indicate she was resigning.

The Butler Eagle has an outstanding right-to-know request filed seeking a copy of the letter.

Before public comment during Monday’s meeting, Anschutz read a statement saying residents are allotted three minutes each for comment and asked all participants to “remain professional and respectful” as borough business will be conducted “in an orderly manner, free of disruptions, outbursts or unprofessional remarks.”

Hughes started speaking by showing her copy of her elections certificate and said she overheard at February’s meeting that Mayor Dan Anschutz was responsible for picking up the certificates.

Dan Anschutz immediately denied the claim. Hughes said she did not want to be interrupted while speaking.

She continued, stating she should have been notified of the pickup beforehand. Then, to address claims that she resigned, she began to read from a letter she believed to be the same one referenced in April Anschutz’s email to the elections bureau.

“I will read the letter I handed in, and I will omit names,” Hughes said before reading.

Shortly after beginning, April Anschutz told her to stop reading the letter as Hughes “cannot talk about personnel issues” during the meeting. Hughes told her that she already agreed to omit names.

“If you do not stop, you will be asked to leave. I’m telling you now,” April Anschutz said.

Hughes stopped reading the letter, but said she referred to herself as a citizen in it because she was unaware of her reelection and considered herself a citizen.

While Hughes wanted to speak further, her time to speak ran out. She said she should get another 30 seconds to speak because of the number of interruptions she experienced. April Anschutz told her no.

As Hughes continued speaking, April Anschutz gave her three warnings that she would be removed if she continued.

Hughes continued to speak, so April Anschutz asked Lt. Jordan Waclav with the borough’s police department to remove her from the meeting. Waclav told Hughes to leave, but she refused.

“You’re going to get charged with obstruction,” Waclav told Hughes.

Hughes continued to refuse to leave and returned to her seat on council.

She said Wednesday that she felt that she was speaking as a resident before returning to her seat as a council member.

“I’m not leaving. I did nothing wrong,” she said during Monday’s meeting.

“You were asked to leave and you did not leave,” Waclav responded.

Ultimately, Waclav placed Hughes in handcuffs and escorted her out of the building. While being escorted, Hughes called for attendees to photograph or record the situation.

Council called for a five-minute recess to reset afterward.

“I never, in a million years, would’ve expected to be dragged out in handcuffs. That was awful,” Hughes said Wednesday.

After being escorted outside, Hughes said Waclav told her she was detained but not under arrest. She said she began to shake from anxiety, and her smartwatch said her heart rate spiked up to 112 beats per minute.

She said she requested an ambulance for evaluation. After being evaluated, she said Waclav offered to drive her home but ended up calling Hughes’ daughter to help.

Despite everything, she said she still feels a commitment to the will of Harrisville voters to serve on council.

“I’m honored that they want me there to represent them. And I take that 110% seriously. That’s what we’re supposed to do,” she said.

Slippery Rock Mayor Jondavid Longo shared a video and audio of Hughes’ detaining on in a Facebook post Wednesday, calling for April Anschutz’s resignation and a formal ethics investigation of the borough.

The Butler Eagle was unable to reach Dan Anschutz for comment. Harrisville police department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Eagle intern Maura Farr contributed to this report.