Crime

LeRoy Valentine: Decades After First Alleged Child Sex Abuse, St. Louis Priest Removed

Another day, another dispute with the St. Louis Archdiocese regarding allegations of child sex abuse. The case of Father LeRoy Valentine, however, involves a long and complicated history of accusations that span several decades and allegations of repeated inaction by those in charge. And victims' ad ... More >>

Homicide No. 32: Pierre Childs, 16, Shot By Group of Suspects, Found Lying on the Street

The latest homicide victim in St. Louis is one of the youngest of the year so far. St. Louis metro police say that yesterday Pierre Childs, age sixteen, was found lying on the grass between the street and sidewalk at around 5 p.m. after officers received a call for a shooting. He was unconscious ... More >>

Timothy Copeland, St. Peters Man Accused of Arson, Shooting, Smiles for His Mugshot

We're not sure what is more bizarre -- the accusations against Timothy Copeland, or the suspect's smiling mugshot. Exhibit A to your right. As for the allegations, they are, at the very least, as strange as his mug. Copeland, according to the St. Peters Police Department, was released from priso ... More >>

Glenda Jackson: Men Rob Victims, Kill Woman as She Tries to Retrieve Property, Police Say

Less than 24 hours after a woman was found strangled to death in an alleyway, St. Louis metro police say that another woman has been killed -- in a robbery last night that turned very violent. 39-year-old Glenda Jackson, a 55-year-old female and another male were victimized last night when five me ... More >>

Four-Year-Old Girl Hit in Dutchtown Drive-By Shooting, Police Search for Suspect

The most recent victim of gun violence in St. Louis is a four-year-old girl. Police say the girl, hit by bullets last night, was not the intended target, but got caught up in gunfire from a drive-by shooting. The incident took place last night around 7:30 p.m. on Louisiana Avenue in the city's Du ... More >>

Emily Hagan: Attorney Says Rain, Street Construction Were Factors in DWI Cyclist Death

This week, news broke that Emily Hagan, a 31-year-old Kirkwood resident, has accepted a plea deal for a three-year sentence -- one year after she was accused of killing a cyclist while driving drunk in University City. "Emily...wanted to accept the responsibility and she did," her attorney Art Mar ... More >>

Belleville Martial Arts Instructor Accused of Sexually Exploiting Kids, Filming the Abuse

Christopher Horton, a twenty-year-old Belleville martial-arts instructor, is accused of sexually exploiting three minors -- ages six, eight and ten -- and filming the abuse. A new complaint against Horton says that he confessed to the sexual assault and attempted to get a fourth minor to engage in s ... More >>

Homicide: Danielle Mack-Jones, 27, Allegedly Stabs St. Louis County Man, Steals Two TVs

Danielle Mack-Jones, a 27-year-old St. Louis County resident, is accused of stabbing to death a neighbor in her apartment complex -- and then stealing two televisions. Police announced today that she had officially been issued warrants, a major step in their investigation into a Christmas Eve homici ... More >>

Top Ten Strangest Missouri Bandits: Mr. Polite, Spider-Man, Granddad and More! (PHOTOS)

This week, St. Louis County police charged a Fenton woman who allegedly walked into a smoke shop with a knife, asked for cash -- and then settled on a measly $7.50 in tip jar coins. Not really worth all the trouble, if you ask us. But the bizarre incident got us thinking about the craziest bandits i ... More >>

Violence Against Women Act: Why Is Senator Roy Blunt Still Opposing? LGBT Protections?

One of the more heated battles in D.C. this year so far centers around the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, a measure that provides protection for victims of domestic violence. Congress failed to extend it last year, but it's now under consideration at the House -- after it passed ... More >>

Phyllis Schlafly Says Violence Against Women Act Promotes Divorce And Hatred of Men

Today in St. Louisans weighing in on national politics, Daily RFT brings you the always charming Phyllis Schlafly, president of the Eagle Forum and conservative activist with reliably delightful views on other human beings. Today's topic? The Violence Against Women Act, the one that Congress failed ... More >>

Domino's Robbery: Is There A Pizza Delivery Crime Epidemic In St. Louis?

If you deliver pizza in St. Louis, be on the lookout -- there is an epidemic of crime against pizza employees in this town. At least it sure seems that way with today's news of yet another alleged robbery at gunpoint in which a guy in a Domino's uniform was the victim. The St. Louis County Polic ... More >>

Authorities: Merrel Burch Was Behind Subway Robbery (And Maybe Several Others)

Authorities believe that a 26-year-old from south county was behind two robbery incidents in the past week -- and may be responsible for as many as seven others.  Merrell Burch is from the 7700 block of Olde English, which lies just outside city limits south of Willmore Park.  According to ... More >>

South City Subway Robber Caught, Cops Say

Police believe they've caught up with the low-life who twice robbed a South City Subway restaurant -- and are accusing him, in addition, of shooting a man through a car window. Deangelo Webb, a 19-year-old from the 3800 block of Shenandoah Avenue, faces charges of robbery, assault and armed criminal ... More >>

Two Charged for Robbing South City Imo's Pizza Delivery Man at Knifepoint

Another pizza delivery driver was robbed in South City on Friday night, but this time the cops believe they've nabbed the crooks responsible. Auntre Moore, a 19-year-old from the 4200 block of Virginia Avenue,  and Christopher Moore, a 28-year-old from the 2000 block of DeSoto Avenue, have been ... More >>

South City Subway Robbed Again

The Subway franchise at South Grand Boulevard and Shenandoah Avenue was robbed again at 9:20 pm on Saturday night. The same Subway was hit by an armed robber back on November 18, city cops say.  Store employees and the cops reportedly believe that the same guy is behind both crimes.

Country Club Sopranos: American banks are on a massive crime spree. Obama and Romney hope you won't notice.

Police Arrest Man They Accuse of Robbing Victims Then Shooting Them in the Face

Police say Vincent D. Newman, a 24-year-old from Midtown, is the guy who has robbed at least three people near I-44 and Grand, taken their property, then shot them. (Two of them in the face, by the way.)  Cops arrested Newman Wednesday. So far he's only been charged with felony robbery and arme ... More >>

St. Louis Criminals Took Most of the Weekend Off, Just Like Us

The Labor Day Weekend started off quietly on the crime front, although whether it was because of the holiday, the rainy weather or just a coincidence remains open for debate.That all changed in a 24-hour period starting Sunday afternoon, as three shootings in that span sent three people to the hospi ... More >>

Two More Shootings on Labor Day Bring the Holiday to Bloody, Non-Fatal Close

An additional pair of shootings was reported to St. Louis Police on Monday, bringing a wet holiday weekend to a bloody end. At 6 p.m. Monday, police report that a 16-year-old black young man was stopped by a pair of black young men on bicycles in the 3700 block of Penrose Street in the Fairground Pa ... More >>

Central West End Neighborhood Security Initiative Releases Info On Other Robberies

The Central West End Neighborhood Security Initiative yesterday released information on two armed robberies that occurred on Sunday, August 19, hours after Megan Boken was murdered at the intersection of Taylor and Maryland avenues.According to its update, four people walking near Euclid Avenue and ... More >>

Shooter Opens Fire on Goodfellow Boulevard, Injuring Two

Three people were injured Sunday afternoon when a man opened fire in the 900 block of Goodfellow Boulevard in the West End. A 51-year-old black man told police he was driving north on Goodfellow when he heard shots, simultaneously with his windshield exploding. His car suffered further damage to the ... More >>

Seven People Shot in Five Separate Incidents on Sunday

Police had a busy Sunday throughout St. Louis City, as seven people were shot in five separate incidents. In the most serious incident, a 25-year-old black man was shot multiple times while in the parking lot of White Castle at 3524 North Kingshighway in the Kingsway East neighborhood at 11:30 p.m. ... More >>

Attempted Robbery Ends with Robber and Victim Shot

Police continue to investigate an attempted robbery that resulted in both the victim and the robber being shot. The victim is a 56-year-old black man who told police he was walking on a parking lot in the 3700 block of Page Boulevard when a 25-year-old black man approached and announced a robbery. T ... More >>

Three Shootings In the City Monday Night

Three people are hospitalized this morning after being shot in three separate incidents last night. In the earliest incident, an 18-year-old black man was walking at 13th Street and Cass Avenue in the edge of the Columbus Square neighborhood at 6:25 p.m. when he heard gunshots and took off running. ... More >>

Two Shootings in St. Louis Sunday Night

Police were called out to deal with two shootings last night, although in the first instance the victim wanted nothing to do with the police. The uncooperative victim is an 18-year-old black man, who would not tell police how he was injured nor would he tell them where he was when he was shot. Witne ... More >>

Wash. U is 16th Most Crime-Riddled Campus

According to The Daily Beast, Washington University is a premiere institution for hitting the books or getting hit over the head. Using data from the U.S. Department of Education, the blog used incidents of murder, robbery, assault, burglaries, and car thefts between 2008 and 2010 to populate their ... More >>

St. Louis Is the Third-Most Dangerous City

Don't let any of those grumpy old guys tell you America doesn't manufacture anything these days -- no other country in the world cranks out as many internet lists as we do. It's our second-largest industry, after political shouting programs. At any rate, it's Thursday and according to something call ... More >>

Joseph Millard Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

Belleville man Joseph Millard, 49, was arrested Wednesday on multiple charges of downloading and distributing child pornography. He's being held on a $500,000 bond, and faces six to thirty years per charge in prison if found guilty.Those are big numbers, but check this out.

Tracy D. Jones: St. Louis Homicide No. 23; Shot in A Car

Tracy D. Jones, 47, was inside a car with an unidentified 56-year-old black woman in the 1500 block of Whittier Avenue last night when unknown suspects opened fire on them. Jones was shot in the chest and back, and was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman was shot in the thigh, and was treated an ... More >>

Two Separate Shootings Friday Night

​The Delmar Loop was not the only part of the city where shots were shots were fired  this weekend. Just around 9:30 p.m. Friday night, an unidentified 20-year-old black man was dropped off at an area hospital with multiple gunshot injuries. Witnesses tell police the victim was shot by two bl ... More >>

The Columbine Effect: Thirteen years and a hundred school shootings later, why is Hollywood obsessed with this one?

Three Shootings in the City Sunday Night

​St. Louis Metropolitan Police were kept busy Sunday night with three separate shooting incidents in just more than six hours. Fortunately, no one was killed. But there's a numbing similarity in all three cases that doesn't portend well for this summer; if the shootings jump up on the first warm n ... More >>

Victim Fatally Felled By Police Bullet

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has reported that police officers and at least one suspect exchanged gunfire over the weekend, resulting in a man's death. On Friday evening St. Louis police shot dead Jordan Walls, nineteen, of the 4900 block of Terry Avenue. In addition the police sho ... More >>

Strip Club Tax Supporters Drop Research Bomb

​Some resent the implication at the heart of the "skin tax" bill: That strip clubs somehow foster sexual assault, and thus should have to pay $5-per-patron fee to fund aid to rape victims. However, as the bill wends its way through the Illinois senate, supporters of the bill are arguing -- now wit ... More >>

Scott Solovic: Thrice Convicted of Raping Children, Contends Current Accuser is "Too Young" for Him

​Scott Solovic, 38, is currently serving his third stint in jail for sexually assaulting underage girls. A fourth victim of his depredations came forward only after he was sentenced to prison this most recent time, because she felt she was safe enough to do so with him out of her life. Authorities ... More >>

Dominic Johnson: St. Louis Homicide No. 17; Shot Outside Sports Bar

​Dominic Johnson, a 27-year-old black male, was found shot to death outside the Starz Sports Bar and Grill (8700 block of Goodfellow Boulevard; pictured above) in the North Pointe neighborhood Monday night just after midnight.According to police documents, St. Louis Police responded to a report of ... More >>

Missouri Meth Lab Seizures Hit New Record; State Leads Nation Again

Confiscated meth equipment.​Once again, Missouri has the dubious distinction of leading the nation in the number of meth labs seized in 2011. Law enforcement uncovered 2,096 labs in Missouri last year, an increase of six percent over the 1,960 discovered in 2010. Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and O ... More >>

Supreme Court Decision on Missouri Sex Offender Carries Implications Across U.S.

A sex case that began in Missouri and passed through Pennsylvania continued its path all the way to Washington, where this week U.S. Supreme Court released an opinion that poses just as many questions as answers when it comes to sex-offender registration laws. In a 7-2 ruling announced January 23, ... More >>

St. Louis Homicides Drop 20 Percent Thanks to Slow 4th Quarter

​St. Louis had 21 percent fewer homicides in 2011 compared to 2010, according to preliminary crime figures from the police department. That's great news, though it isn't the first time in recent history that the city's murder rate has plunged inexplicably. The early 2000s saw a huge drop in homici ... More >>

Beware of Fashion-Conscious "Logo Bandit" in West County

​In the St. Louis metropolitan region, there appear to be two types of bank robbers. First, there are the traditional types who hit various branches in the city, clad in pedestrian bank-robbing garb like old-man masks, ski caps and McDonald's uniforms. Then, there is another, higher class o ... More >>

Perv and Protect: Dozens of teenage Explorers have been sexually molested by cops. Should the Scouting program share the blame?

Five Things To Do if You Are Robbed (According to the St. Louis Circuit Attorney)

​Full disclosure up-front: this is a bit of a let down. There are, in fact, hundreds or thousands of things you could do when getting robbed (the exact number is based on whether you count "turn and run" and "point over the robber's shoulder and say 'what is that?' then turn and run" separately) ... More >>

Brian McCuller: St. Louis Homicide No. 110; Teen Shot on North Grand

Bad weekend for North Grand. Early Saturday morning a woman was gunned down in the 3100 block of north St. Louis thoroughfare. On Sunday morning it was an 18-year-old teen shot to death a few block south in the 2500 block of N. Grand (below). ​According to police, Brian McCuller was with a gr ... More >>

Mizzou Coach Gary Pinkel Arrested for DWI

Boone County Sheriff's DepartmentPinkel was pickled, say police.Chrissake, Gary! Has Mizzou's 5-5 season led you to the bottle? Or are you still celebrating Saturday's win over Texas? Either way, this doesn't look good for ​the University of Missouri.Major Tom Reddin of the Boone County Sheri ... More >>

Why Are Hate Crimes Nineteen Times More Likely in Kansas City Than St. Louis?

​The FBI released its annual batch of data on hate crimes earlier this week, offering a breakdown by state and jurisdiction. Here's the most curious thing that jumps out immediately: Number of hate crimes reported last year in Kansas City, population 484,191: 76 Number of hate crimes reporte ... More >>

Stealing from the rich to...oh, whatever. Funny is the message in Tower Heist.

Willie Perkins: St. Louis Man Shot Point-Blank in Head During Armed Robbery

A 63-year-old man is dead and his 64-year-old friend recovering today after both were injured during a brazen armed robbery last night in the the 2900 block of North Jefferson (below). ​

Daniel Hughes: Ritz-Carlton Sexual Assault Suspect Sued By Home Insurer

Daniel Hughes' insurance company bristles at paying for his legal defense.​The company that holds the home insurance policy for Daniel Hughes, the Pennsylvania man accused of sexually assaulting a pre-teen in the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton this past March, has found himself in yet another legal battl ... More >>