Judge refuses to dismiss claims against city in lawsuit against former Charleston chief

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — A judge on Tuesday refused to dismiss claims against the city of Charleston in a case involving former police chief James “Tyke” Hunt.

Judge Jennifer Bailey sided with Chelsea McCoy during a civil hearing in her complaint against the city alleging she was forced to have sex with Hunt, who was a sergeant at the time. The city had attempted to have claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress, punitive damages and wrongful termination dismissed in the case.

In an interview with Eyewitness News, McCoy alleged Hunt tampered with her polygraph results during her departmental application process and had improper interactions with her in the polygraph examination room and the former chief's city hall office.

Bailey said in her ruling that in order to dismiss, it had to appear beyond doubt, which is one of the highest standards.

McCoy is one of two women with lawsuits against Hunt accusing him of misconduct.

Back in 2015, McCoy joined the West Virginia National Guard when she was 18 years old. She also wanted to serve and protect her community. So, starting in 2017 and culminating a year later, McCoy began a journey toward joining the Charleston Police Department.

"I wanted to make a difference," McCoy told Eyewitness News in 2023. "I grew up really rough and I wanted to be different than everyone else that I saw growing up. So, I lived in Charleston when I was a teenager and I just, I was like, this is my city. I want to protect the city and I was already in uniform through the military so it just made sense."

However, McCoy was worried her checkered past might block her from joining the department's ranks. Her mother was addicted to drugs and McCoy was exposed to them at an early age. She experimented but did not get hooked.

She believed a question on a polygraph exam required for Charleston Police Department applicants stood in her way of fulfilling her dream.

In 2018, when McCoy was applying to join the department, James "Tyke" Hunt was a sergeant and a polygraph examiner. She said Hunt started a texting relationship with her about a month before the test.

She alleges that Hunt assured her she would pass the polygraph. McCoy said she lied about her drug usage during the polygraph, but alleges she was told by Hunt that she passed.

McCoy claims she and Hunt then had mutual sex in the polygraph room. After their alleged encounter, McCoy began her career as a probationary officer.

In January 2019, McCoy got into a fight with another woman at a gathering at her home. McCoy told police she was acting in self-defense. She was charged with battery and resigned from the Charleston Police Department.

McCoy said when the other woman failed to appear in court, the charge was dropped and she reapplied to the department.

Shortly thereafter, she and then chief of police Hunt started texting each other once again. McCoy said one thing led to another and the two allegedly had sex again in his office after he’d become chief.

In 2021, McCoy was activated for COVID duty with the National Guard. She said during that time she was embroiled in a custody battle with the father of her child. She started an OnlyFans page to make additional money, not identifying herself and working alone.

However, she posted about the page on her personal Facebook account, drawing attention from Charleston Sgt. Richie Basford, who is now Chief of Detectives, who texted McCoy asking to meet with her privately where he allegedly advised she resign from the police department.

Following Basford's advice, McCoy resigned from the Charleston Police Department in March 2022.

Hunt resigned from his position as chief on Aug. 18, 2023, citing personal and medical reasons.