St. George police chief Scott Uhrig has another reason to be displeased with Sgt. James E. Kuehnlein, Jr.

Kuehnlein's caught-on-camera antics not only put Chief Uhrig in the spotlight -- it's bringing attention to some disturbing things in Uhrig's past.

In February, 2002, Uhrig was hauled before a hearing of Missouri's Administrative Hearing Commission. This body is reponsible for taking action against a wide range of individuals who hold professional licenses -- like hairdressers, accountants and police officers.

The AHC was presented with a case involving then-Arnold police officer Uhrig and a 17 year-old girl named Chrystal Cole.

As detailed in the AHC's findings of fact, on July 4, 2000, Uhrig pulled Cole over for a traffic stop. He instructed the teenager to pull into an empty parking lot. He told her to drive her car behind a truck trailer so it would be out of view.

Then it gets creepy.

From the case Director of Department of Public Safety vs. Scott T. Uhrig:

"Uhrig went over to Cole's car. He asked where her boyfriend was, suggested that he might take her to jail, petted her arm and face with the back of his hand, and told her that she was 'beautiful, hot, and tempting.' Uhrig suggested that she get into his vehicle for a 'quickie,' by which he meant some type of sexual activity."

This is not a charge... not an allegation... this is a fact, as determined by state investigators and proven before a hearing of the AHC.

In its "conclusions of law," the AHC described Uhrig's action as "gross misconduct indicating inability to function as a peace officer."

The four page document concludes with this foreboding line:

"We conclude that Uhrig's unwelcome sexual advances to a teenager, while on duty and under the guise of enforcing the laws, indicate an especially egregious mental state, show that he cannot enforce the law, and are cause for discipline."

So how did Scott Uhrig remain a police officer, let alone get hired as chief in St. George?

UPDATE 1:04 p.m.

News 4 reporter Kara Kaswell spoke with Chef Scott Uhrig within the hour.

Despite the state investigation into the complaint and the AHC's finding of fact, Uhrig denies the incident with Chrystal Cole ever took place.

According to Uhrig, his discipline consisted of a demotion to probationary police officer for one year. He then spent four additional years with the Arnold force before leaving.

We are working to confirm Uhrig's punishment with the Missouri Department of Public Safety -- which controls police officer certifications.

Kara Kaswell is working this story in the field. News 4 Investigates is researching different angles here in the newsroom.

UPDATE 2:45 p.m.

A spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Public Safety would not immediately confirm Uhrig's account of his punishment. News 4 Investigates was asked to submit a request for that information under Missouri Sunshine Law. We have done so and expect a response within three days.

The spokesperson did say one thing that's rather telling -- he wanted to make it clear the decision on Uhrig's discipline was made by a previous director of public safety.

A source in law enforcement tells News 4 Investigates this may indicate the current director feels the punishment did not fit the severity of Uhrig's infraction.

UPDATE 5:16 p.m.

Chief Scott Uhrig escalated his denial of the 2000 incident that resulted in his punishment by the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

Late this afternoon, Uhrig issued a statement that reads, in part:

"I was wrongfully accused and reprimanded for something that I never did. In conclusion (sic) with that, Missouri's Peace Officers Standard (sic) Training also reprimanded me for the same thing I did not do. I paid my dues for an alleged allegation (sic) I never did... My family had to live through it once, and now you (sic) making my family live through it again."

It appears Kara Kaswell may be the only reporter to hear the chief's denial in person.

He concludes his letter with the line:

"If any media attempts to contact me, it will be 'No Comment'."

Scott Uhrig can deny this incident all he wants.

However, he can not deny a state investigation found enough evidence to convince the Department of Public Safety to bring charges against him.

He can not deny the AHC hearing that determined there was enough solid evidence to warrant action against his peace officer license.

And he can not deny it is certainly newsworthy when a person rises to the rank of police chief with that skeleton lurking in his closet.

UPDATE 6:22 p.m.

Chief Uhrig under investigation for 2000 incident

St. George police chief Scott Uhrig is the subject of a city investigation after news broke Wednesday about an incident of sexual harassment in the chief's past.

St. George mayor Harold Goodman tells News 4 Investigates the chief is under investigation and the city can make no comment about the facts of the case.

Goodman said he did not know of the state sanction against the chief's license until it was discussed on KMOX-AM radio Wednesday morning. According to Goodman, Uhrig was hired by a previous administration.