ST. LOUIS — Sheriff Alfred Montgomery is suing the city to block a new ordinance requiring his office to transport jail detainees to medical appointments and justify office expenses to the city comptroller.

A lawsuit, filed just hours after Mayor Cara Spencer signed the rules into law Monday, says only the state Legislature can prescribe duties for the sheriff . It says the transportation assignment will take deputies away from vital courtroom security duties, and asks a judge to declare the ordinance illegal.

The new law, sponsored by Alderman Matt Devoti, of the Hill, aimed to address two issues: Montgomery's dozens of refusals to take city jail detainees to doctors since taking office in January, and a string of controversial purchases. It says the sheriff is obligated by state law to

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