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ST. LOUIS COUNTY — A dispute last month between a construction crew and an off-duty policeman has led to criminal charges against three construction workers.

At least one of the workers claimed in a media report that the workers were assaulted first, but the written police account and the charges filed by the St. Louis County prosecutor don’t mention that.

Instead, the workers are accused of a one-sided attack. It happened about 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 26 at the intersection of South Lindbergh Boulevard and Lemay Ferry Road.

Charges were filed on Oct. 4 against Matthew Devlin, Garrett Gibbs and Donnie Gene Hurley II. The case was charged under seal but a judge ordered it unsealed Thursday.

The construction crew is accused of arguing with and then assaulting a motorist who apparently drove into their construction zone. The motorist was an off-duty St. Louis County police officer, in plain clothes and driving an unmarked car.

According to charging documents, one of the workers used racial slurs against the off-duty officer, who is Black, and told him he didn’t belong there and to “go back to the hood with your gold chain.”

Devlin is charged with assault after police say he used his hard hat to hit the off-duty officer in the head.

Gibbs and Hurley held the off-duty officer while Devlin beat him with the hardhat, authorities allege. Hurley choked him using a headlock, with the help of Gibbs and Devlin, prosecutors allege. The off-duty officer pleaded with them that he couldn’t breathe, according to court papers.

Police did not identify the off-duty officer. Court records refer to him only by the initials D.W.

Devlin, 39, is charged with three counts of first-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action and one count of kidnapping. Gibbs, 23, and Hurley, 42, are each charged with two counts of first-degree assault, armed criminal action and kidnapping.

Devlin and Gibbs both live in unincorporated northern Jefferson County. Hurley lives in Arnold. They do not have attorneys listed in online court documents.

Devlin’s bond was set at $250,000. Gibbs and Hurley were each held on a $100,000 bond.

A witness called 911, and police arrived to interrupt the assault, St. Louis County police Officer Justin Adams wrote in a probable cause statement.

On Wednesday, KTVI first reported on the construction crew’s allegations that they had been assaulted by an angry motorist who drove into their work zone. The work area was blocked off by construction cones with a sign that said “no left turn.” The off-duty officer came into the zone anyway to try to turn left, and even said he was a cop so he should be able to do it, according to one worker.

Gibbs was interviewed on camera shortly before his arrest. He said the off-duty officer , missing one worker and instead hitting Gibbs in the mouth. Gibbs said the road workers thought the off-duty officer was intoxicated, according to the TV report.

St. Louis County police Sgt. Tracy Panus said she had no information Friday about whether the construction workers had claimed they were assaulted first. She said she didn’t want to comment beyond the court records and risk tainting a jury pool.

Christopher King, a spokesperson for the St. Louis County prosecutor, said the case is still being investigated.

“If we have any reason to amend the charges or file new charges,” King said, “we will do that in the court before talking about it with the public.”

On Friday afternoon, St. Louis County put out a request for help from the public. Police said they are seeking additional information and witnesses. Anyone with information can call police at 636-529-8210.