(UPDATE: State police now investigating fight between Eric Mays and Flint staffer)

FLINT, MI – Flint City Councilman Eric Mays claims he was attacked Wednesday evening at a local bar by a member of Mayor Sheldon Neeley’s staff.

But the administration is alleging Mays is the one who flung insults at DuVarl Murdock, the city’s deputy chief of staff, leading to a physical confronation between the pair.

After being asked to leave Wednesday night’s city council meeting due to what a statement from the administration calls “disorderly conduct,” Mays told MLive-The Flint Journal he went with a group of friends to Rube’s Bar & Grill on North Chevrolet Avenue.

According to Mays, he made the decision to leave the meeting because “nobody was listening to the rules.”

The statement from Neeley’s office says: “Murdock said Mays unleashed a series of insults and threats of violence at him, including “I am going to whoop your ***.”

“Mays then approached Murdock in a hostile fashion and Murdock defended himself,” per the statement.

Mays offered a different version of events. He said Murdock began “slapping me on the face like the Godfather.”

He admits to words being exchanged, but Mays said Murdock slammed him on the ground, got on top of him, and began “punching away.”

The two men were in a verbal altercation at a different location in December, Mays said.

Rube's Bar and Grill, located at 1117 N. Chevrolet Ave. in Flint. (Jake May | MLive.com)

On Wednesday night, Mays says he called 911 and two Flint police officers arrived at the scene and took his statement. Mays then went to Hurley Medical Center for evaluation of scrapes on his back, he said.

“I’m in shock,” said Mays of the incident. “I’ve been in politics for 40 years and never been physically violent with anybody.”

The statement from the city notes Mays was asked to leave the establishment while Murdock was allowed to stay once police arrived.

The statement also called the situation "even more inexcusable behavior by Councilman Eric Mays” and noted that Wednesday’s meeting is the second time in a row the councilman has been asked to leave.

“This behavior is shameful and he is an embarrassment,” the city administration’s statement reads. “We hope City Council will intervene to stop Mays’ ongoing mistreatment and harassment of City of Flint employees.”

Murdock has filed a criminal report against Mays, according to the statement.

Mays said he is also hoping for justice. He hopes the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office will review the incident for possible charges.

He has a “zero-tolerance policy” toward violent behavior.

“I don’t want anybody in City Hall with these violent tendencies,” he said.

Flint Police Chief Phil Hart said he wasn’t aware of the situation when reached on Thursday.

The bar’s owner declined to comment.