Caseyville Police Chief Jose Alvarez pleaded not guilty this morning to two misdemeanor counts he faces in connection with an incident at the Feb. 19 Caseyville Village Board meeting.

Caseyville Police Chief Jose Alvarez addresses the Village Board on March 19, 2014 / Photo by Roger Starkey

With Bob Romanik coming into and out of courtroom 108 in the St. Clair County Courthouse, Alvarez’s attorney, Bob Jones, and Special Prosecutor David Rands stood before a judge. The trio shared a laugh and Jones entered not guilty pleas for the disturbing the peace charge and the battery — by chest bump against Caseyville police officer Frank Moore — charge.

A trial by jury was tentatively set for Sept. 19, but that date is likely to change as the process continues, Jones said.

There is currently a special meeting of the Caseyville Village Board set for 5 p.m. Wednesday in Mayor Leonard Black’s most recent attempt to convince the Board to terminate Alvarez.