Friday afternoon the Prescott Police Department issued a press release confirming that
former police officer and current Prescott Valley Mayor Kell Palguta will face formal
criminal charges of Assault and Disorderly Conduct. The charges stem from a bar
fight at the Bird Cage Saloon on Whiskey Row. An investigation by the Prescott Police
Department has found probable cause to believe Mr. Palguta was the aggressor. The
full text of the press release including details of the incident is printed below.
Prescott eNews reminds readers that under the law, Mayor Palguta, like anyone
accused of a crime, is presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty in a court
of law .
Prescott Valley Elected Official Issued Criminal Citation for Assault
The Prescott Police Department has issued a criminal citation to Kell Palguta, 49, of Prescott Valley, for misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct.
On August 17 at approximately 1:15 pm, the Prescott Police Department received a report of an assault that occurred on August 16 around 4pm at the Bird Cage Saloon.
During the investigation, officers learned that a verbal disagreement began after Palguta entered the business and sat next to the victim’s spouse at the bar. The dispute escalated when the victim returned. Surveillance footage shows Palguta and the victim exchanging words. As Palguta stood up and moved away from the bar, the victim attempted to pull the barstool back to where he had been sitting before Palguta sat down. Palguta then approached and took hold of the stool. He is seen placing his drink on the bar, grabbing the stool with both hands, and pulling it away from the victim. Palguta then grabbed the victim’s arm and shoulder, pushing him toward the bar. Staff members quickly intervened and stopped the altercation.
Based on witness statements and video evidence, Palguta was issued a criminal citation for misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct.
Lieutenant Gary Novak, Prescott Police Department
__________
Our original story from August 21, 2026:
This reporter got a tip that on Sunday the 16th, Prescott Valley Mayor Kell Palguta was involved in an “altercation” in the Birdcage Saloon on Prescott’s Whisky Row, aka Montezuma Street.
As is true in Prescott Valley, social media lit up with rumors and allegations that we reluctantly report. One woman posted that her friend witnessed it and there was a choking of some kind.
When this reporter went to Prescott PD, the clerk said, “We have no paperwork for you. We have no incident report on Mayor Kell Palguta.” Is Blue covering for Blue already? My next stop was Birdcage Saloon where people in the know confirmed the incident, one asking me, if “I knew the mayor of my town was a f***ing ***hole?”
I urged the mayor to come clean and talk to me as he has complimented me as a reporter in the past.
He issued this statement: “I am aware that charges related to an incident I was involved in at a business establishment in Prescott last Sunday are moving forward, and I expect to receive a citation within the next couple of days. I want to specifically recognize and thank the Prescott Police Department for the professionalism they have demonstrated throughout this process. They have a job to do, and I respect that responsibility and the legal process that follows. Because this is now an active legal matter, I will not debate the details through social media or the court of public opinion. There will be an appropriate time and place for the complete circumstances surrounding the incident to be addressed. In the meantime, I will continue doing the job I was elected to do and remain focused on serving the residents of Prescott Valley.”
Prescott Valley Town Manager Gilbert Davidson was also asked by this reporter to comment, and he issued a more banal comment: “The Town of Prescott Valley is aware of reports regarding an incident involving Mayor Kell Palguta in another jurisdiction on Sunday August 16th. We take all matters involving the conduct of our elected officials seriously. We understand that an investigation is currently underway by the relevant authorities; the town is monitoring the situation and we’ll provide updates as appropriate.”
Palguta as a Troubled Cop
It is not lost in irony that a triple fatality accident that occurred a few blocks away from the Birdcage in front of St. Michaels Hotel in 2001, was the result of a high-speed chase that began at the old Circle K in Prescott Valley when former PVPD police Sergeant Palguta, later busted down to corporal, encountered a crime suspect. While he was never found guilty of the high-speed chase or deaths, the Town of Prescott Valley settled lawsuits that “stemmed from the death of three young men in a traffic accident involving a fleeing felon,” according to a PV spokesperson.
The total settlement amount was $2.65 million, although the families had initially filed claims against the Town totaling $115 million.
This reporter acquired, by way of the state open records law, Palguta’s entire HR file while he was working as a police officer for PV. He received numerous discipline letters [documents available on request], and when he tried to retire, he was snubbed, so he had three doctors write letters to the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System in Phoenix and receives $3,500 per month for his “acquired” post-traumatic stress disorder. Palguta would never discuss whether he was “stressed” by the deaths.
The buzz around PV is “how does the mayor own two approximate $1 million homes, (county website is the source), two restaurants as investor (Fat Frog, and the former Colt Grill), a construction company registered with the state R.O.C., and a real estate company?”
It is important to note that the owner of Prescott ENews is an attorney and believes that no one is guilty until proven so in a court of law.
8 thoughts on “UPDATED STORY: MAYOR PALGUTA CRIMINALLY CHARGED | Newly Elected Mayor Kell Palguta is in Hot Water: As He Begins His Third Term, He Faces Accusations of Wrongdoing in a Local Bar – Bill Williams”
Thanks for Prescott E News. I doubt if anything will appear in The Daily Courier which is known to protect the “good ole boys”. While by itself this may be a assault and battery or a civil matter, it is another negative incident for the third term mayor of Prescott Valley. A large grassroots organization in PV backed a great experienced leader for mayor, however, the voters turnout was low and apparently not convinced mayor Palguta should be replaced.
Just to clarify Tom, his third term doesn’t begin until December. The total voters who voted for him amounts to about 6,000 out of 30,000 registered voters and 53,000 residents. Not a clear mandate of course. There is a presumption of innocence, of course his minions never gave me that courtesy when several false claims were made. We can speculate about what happened. If a choking took place that is more than a fight. It is a clear assault with intent’ to commit great bodily harm. Of course, it’s speculative. Put that together with his history of non-compliance with rules and the law and you have a person who views himself as “above the law.” Not good representation of the law-abiding citizens of our town.
KEEP DIGGING FOR INFO ON THE GUY, HE HAS A BAD RECORD FROM THE PAST & THE FOLKS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HIM!
wondering where all the security camera and cell phone videos are
I’m now a bit curious to know if any of the construction companies who built Legado Apartments in PV after it burnt down was one owned by Kell.
Was the cause of the fire ever determined to be an accident or was it arson?
Things that make you go humm.
He’s as corrupt as can be, my opinion. If you can be part of the inner circle in PV politics and policing, you’re good to go. That inner circle is compromised of relatives, friends and favors.
Look deep into his history, not just what he had done in his past but what he has done to others. Look at PVPD and you’ll discover his hands in hiring, promotions and administrative handling.
In my humble opinion…..NO ONE with a questionable past should serve our community. PERIOD!
@Steve Hyslop: You don’t get out much, do you? The fire that ravaged the parking garage of the Legado project was most definitely ruled an arson, which is why the FBI was involved from Day One.
Was Palgutta’s company involved? I have no idea but I did not hear anything about it until you mentioned it. I’m pretty sure if it WAS involved, we’d have known about it thanks to independent media such as PENews and his enemies on the Left who would have salivated at the thought of embarrassing any conservative in office.
Bill Williams, Investigative reporter
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