St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

Charles Smith: St. Louis Man Sentenced After Attempted Kidnapping, Rape of Girl at Bus Stop

As a fifteen-year-old girl walked to her school bus stop, St. Louis resident Charles Smith grabbed her, forced her into his car with a box cutter -- and tried to rape her. She managed to escape half-clothed and flagged down a passing motorist for help. This is the terrible incident of violence tha ... More >>

Marijuana: 106.5 The Arch Refuses to Air Pot Reform Ad, Says Topic is Too Controversial

It's all about the variety -- unless, of course, you're talking about marijuana. It appears that 106.5 The Arch -- the St. Louis FM radio station with the slogan "it's all about the variety!" -- declined to accept a paid advertisement from local marijuana reform advocacy group Show-Me Cannabis Reg ... More >>

St. Louis Policeman Matthew Schanz Allegedly Choked Boyfriend, Slammed His Head into Wall

An officer with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has been charged with two counts of felony domestic assault and one count of resisting arrest. A probable-cause statement, on view below, says that officer Matthew Schanz was off duty on March 10 when he assaulted his live-in boyfriend, ... More >>

Marijuana: St. Louis Police Sgt. Gary Wiegert is Suing Department for Suppressing His Lobbying

Sgt. Gary Wiegert of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department supports changes in local marijuana laws so that minor offenses would not needlessly drain police resources. That's why he decided to work on the side as a lobbyist for Show-Me Cannabis, a group that advocates for pot reform in Missou ... More >>

St. Louis Hot-Spot Initiative: Will Targeted Attention Help Reduce College Hill Crime?

The St. Louis Metro Police Department and the mayor's office are focusing their crime response efforts this month on the College Hill neighborhood through a "hot-spot" policing initiative. The project, promoted in a press event yesterday, is in response to recent crimes in the area including sever ... More >>

MetroLink Shooting: Akira Edmonds Allegedly Shoots Acquaintance Over "Disagreement" (18)

There are new details in the fatal shooting of Charles Campbell, the 33-year-old who was found dead on the Laclede's Landing MetroLink station last week -- making him the 18th homicide of the year in the city of St. Louis. Akira Edmonds, 24, an "acquaintance" of Campbell, is now facing charges of ... More >>

Two Dog-Owners Charged for Nasty Dog-Neglect

It's becoming clearer every month: If you don't take care of your dog, the city's new Animal Cruelty Task Force will "take care" of you. (In a misdemeanor-charge kind of way.) A couple of gentleman have just learned that lesson. Gary Miller, a 59-year-old from the 3100 block of Fair, has been arrest ... More >>

Cennitra Fowler, 22, Charged With Abuse and Neglect of "Our Little Boy" and "Our Little Girl"

Just hours after the criminal sentencing of an admitted dog-torturer, the Mayor's Office is announcing what could be yet another blow against animal cruelty: Police have arrested and charged 22-year-old Cennitra Fowler of the 2100 block of Stansbury (in the Marine Villa neighborhood) with two misdem ... More >>

The Ex Cop Donut Shop: Keeping South County Safe for Bacon Doughnuts

Yes, in case you happened to be wondering, Frank Loforte, owner, proprietor and head doughnut-maker at the Ex Cop Donut Shop (4584 Telegraph Road, Oakville; 314-894-2677) is, indeed, an ex-cop. So's his wife and business partner Linda. Both served in the City of St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departm ... 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 >>

Cop Ganks Dank, Feds Spank

​Here's why your package from Humboldt didn't arrive in time for Christmas: Sergeant Larry J. Davis of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department enjoys his job so much that he allegedly took work home with him on a regular basis. Davis is assigned to the Central Patrol Division-Special Operatio ... More >>

Occupy St. Louis "Hijacks" Walmart, Macy's; Police Captain Explains Tactics

​Forcibly evicted from downtown's Kiener Plaza, Occupy St. Louis has taken its protest to area department stores. Yesterday afternoon, roughly 30 Occupiers held a meeting outside Macy's at the Galleria. Later, a few "mic-checked" -- using their collective voices as a human megaphone to shout anti- ... More >>

Heroin Junkies Pass Out in Moving Car with 4-Year-Old Daughter in Back Seat

St. Louis Metropolitan Police DepartmentGeorge Stevenson was passed out in the back seat with the child, according to police. A mughot of Van Deusen was not available.​St. Louis prosecutors yesterday charged George Stevenson, 32, and Diane Van Deusen, 31, with possession of a controlled substance ... More >>

Local Control Bill Passes House, Moves to Senate

The local control bill's passage seems like a sure bet... but then again, so was Tyson over Douglas. Its fate lies in the hands of the State Senate. ​On Friday the Missouri House of Representatives passed the bill that would return control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department back to th ... More >>

Let the Dems keep hating: Jamilah Nasheed could pull off the political coup of the century

Governor Nixon Toys With City's Hopes for Local Control in Special Session

Will Governor Nixon throw St. Louis a bone this September?​On Wednesday, Mayor Francis Slay wrote on his blog and the Post-Dispatch reported that a bill to bring local control to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department would be included in the special session now being planned for Septemb ... More >>

Calvin Ross and Patrick K. Smith: St. Louis Homicides No. 71 and 72

5000 Ridge, where friends told police 32-year-old Patrick Smith was shot multiple times yesterday morning.​Two black north-county men were killed in separate incidents yesterday, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.In the first case, 32-year-old Patrick K. Smith was dropped o ... More >>

Vincent L. Gillespie: St. Louis Homicide No. 70

The death of a 50-year-old man with trauma to the face has been officially reclassified as a homicide, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.Vincent L. Gillespie's body was found in the 1400 block of Glasgow on the morning of July 3. His death was originally classified merely as ... More >>

Cops Arrest Two Car Vandals

Willis​The Fourth of July theatrics in St. Louis this weekend weren't limited to concerts and light shows. In case you missed it, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, in dramatic fashion, apprehended two of the men suspected of twenty car break-ins that occurred near Union Station on ... More >>

Police Respond to Rash of Violent Crime in Dutchtown

Keith Novara, "the new police face" of Dutchtown.​Perhaps it's no coincidence that three of the most notorious murders in the city this year -- the killing of U.S. Marshal John Perry; the unprovoked assault on 72-year-old Hoang Nguyen as he walked home from the grocery store; and this week's k ... More >>

Renardo Brownlee: St. Louis Police Shoot Dead Alleged Robber in Downtown

A St. Louis police officer shot an alleged robber in the head, killing him, early Saturday morning after the suspect reportedly pulled a gun on the cops. According to the the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, plainclothes officers on foot patrol came across a group of five men allegedly robb ... More >>

St. Louis Police Shoot 23-Year-Old Armed Robbery Suspect in North St. Louis

Police shot an armed man near the 4800 block of Maffitt, in north St. Louis.​Responding to reports of a string of armed robberies in north St. Louis just before midnight last night, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department faced gunfire from one suspect -- and shot another in the lower back.Th ... More >>

Mardi Gras Drunk Driving Arrests? Ha!

Brian VillaDid this year's Mardi Gras revelers expose their boobs? Yes. Did they drive drunk? Apparently, no.​We know there was mayhem and madness down in Soulard this weekend. (Heck, we've got the pictures to prove it!) We also know that 83 people were arrested for alcohol-related deviltry, inclu ... More >>

Clarence Smith: 17-Year-Old Charged with Multiple Rapes in St. Louis

Clarence Smith now faces 32 felony counts, including forcible sodomy, rape and robbery​ Don't let that baby face fool you. The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office is charging 17-year-old Clarence Smith with 32 felony counts -- including five counts of rape, four counts of forcible sodomy, kidnap ... More >>

Feds End Towing Scandal Investigation; Police Department Says It Will Now Review Case

Towing scandal: It's outta here.​Kevin Shade, a former detective with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, was sentenced yesterday to 27 months in prison for his role in the towing scandal that rocked the department back in 2008. According to the indictment the 36-year-old Shade passed ve ... More >>

Owners of S&H Parking Get Year and Day in Prison, Ordered to Repay Thousands

The sibling owners of S&H Parking implicated in a St. Louis police scandal alleging payoffs and corruption were sentenced today in federal court. William Bialczak received a 366-day prison sentence and ordered to pay $370,185 in restitution in addition to a $100,000 fine. His brother, Kenneth ... More >>

Bialczak Brothers Plead Guilty to Tax Evasion Involving Police Towing Scandal

William Bialczak and his brother Kenneth Bialczak both pleaded guilty yesterday to two felony counts of tax evasion for their role in a towing scandal that rocked the St. Louis police department two years ago and led to the resignation of chief Joe Mokwa.  The United States Attorney's Office c ... More >>

Bryan Pour: Off-Duty St. Louis Cop Pleads Guilty in Shooting Man During Bar Brawl

Pour graduated at the top of his class from the academy. Seriously. He did.​An off-duty St. Louis police officer involved in a wild fight two years ago outside a Metro East tavern has pleaded guilty to the crime of "reckless discharge of a firearm." Bryan Pour, 28, was one of several people involv ... More >>

Mugshot: Melvin Patton Charged in South City Double Homicide

St. Louis Metropolitan Police DepartmentMelvin Patton​As we mentioned earlier today, St. Louis police have arrested Melvin Patton in the grisly, predawn murders of a brother and sister Julius and Keneka Elliot in their south St. Louis home yesterday. St. Louis police report that Patton and victim ... More >>

State Legislators Shoot Down Bill for Local Control of St. Louis Police

Mr. Bill: House Bill 1601​The Missouri House today voted 63-86 to defeat defeat a bill that would have placed the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department under control of city hall. As it stands now, the police department is controlled by a board of commissioners selected by the governor. Tod ... More >>

Bill for Local Control of St. Louis Police Clears Committee

The St. Louis police have been under state control since cops looked like this, a.k.a. the Civil War.​One down, one to go. A bill that would turn oversight of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to city officials cleared a contentious committee meeting yesterday in the Missouri House. The ... More >>

Guess How Many DWI's St. Louis Police Gave Out on Mardi Gras

Image Via Soulard needs a new street sign​If you saw our earlier post today about the 92 arrests made by St. Louis' finest on the biggest drinking holiday of the year, you already know that a whopping 48 kids were cited for underage drinking on Saturday.But with more than 100,000 adults (a ... More >>

Ballot Initiatives for Local Police Control Cruise Through Administrative Hoops

Wikimedia Commons​Lawyer Brad Ketcher has had three ballot-initiative petitions pertaining to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department approved by Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, her office announced yesterday.Ketcher is a political operative who led the successful 2008 ballot initiative to ... More >>

Man Suspected of South City Robberies Is Now Behind Bars

Courtesy of SLMPD It was one "hot" summer for Jerry Cooley, according to St. Louis police. State and federal prosecutors have charged 57-year-old Jerry Cooley, of south city, with multiple counts of robbery and armed criminal action for holding up a handful of St. Louis retailers, and one ban ... More >>

St. Louis: Ten Dumbest Crimes of 2009

Even leaving aside the public servants (Jeff Smith, Steve Brown, T.D. El-Amin) who got caught red-handed this year, 2009 offered a bumper crop of truly stupid crimes.    ​10. Savvy Hillbillies Employ Dogs Eight men from 'round the town of Doniphan allegedly thought they could outsmart ma ... More >>

Last Week's Most Popular Daily RFT Posts, July 20-26

G'morning! If you're just not ready to unclench the weekend from your grip, rewind with these highlights from last week on the Daily RFT, the top-ten most-read postsJoker Bites His Wife's Face, Tells Cops He's BatmanThomas Byrd of Granite City, Ass Clown of the Week nominee, was sentenced to 24 year ... More >>

The Big Bloody: Maggie O'Brien's Bartender Killed in Violent Night That Leaves Three Dead

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department reports this morning that three people died from gunshot wounds in the city last night. Two of the deaths -- involving the murder of a downtown St. Louis bartender -- may be related. Police say that around 11:45 p.m. last night a white male bartender in h ... More >>

Shots Ring Out on Cherokee: Part I

Editor's note: the author happened to be present when this incident occurred. St. Louis Metropolitan Police DepartmentLedarius D. Williams, 17The two shots cracked open the Sunday air just after 12:30 p.m. Within seconds, squad cars were funnelling in, 17-year-old Ledarius D. Williams lay face-down ... More >>

The Big Bloody: Man Charged in Stabbing Death of Roommate

Photo: St. Louis Metropolitan Police DepartmentSteven WhitmorePolice have identified the man charged in the stabbing death of his roommate Friday night in south St. Louis as Steven Whitmore, 45. Whitmore and Thomas Owens, 44, were in an argument in their home in the 7400 block of S. Broadway on May ... More >>

We Dreams of Aimie: Unreal helps eliminate auto theft

Mardi Gras Arrests and Charges: The Official Count

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department just released its final numbers from Saturday's Mardi Gras celebration in Soulard. The police, City Excise Division and State Liquor Control issued a total of 116 charges against individuals. Officials say the number of arrests this year were comparable t ... More >>

Shot in the Arms: Police say the grandson of former St. Louis mayor Alfonso J. Cervantes was wounded in a drug deal involving Clayton High School students

Police Say Grandson of Former St. Louis Mayor Alfonso J. Cervantes Wounded in Drug Deal Involving Clayton High School Students

Connor Cervantes, a grandson of former St. Louis mayor Alfonso J. Cervantes, was shot during an alleged drug transaction on Monday, November 17, according to a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department incident report. Police say a fifteen-year-old suspect was taken into custody three days after th ... More >>

Police Chief's Blog: "The Solution is Not More Guns"

Add Dan Isom to the rolls of public-officials-who-blog. The new chief of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department launched his blog on October 6, the day, as he puts it, that he landed his dream job. He's posted sporadically since then: doling out congratulations to promoted officers and exten ... More >>

Press Release of the Day: City of St. Louis Offers Discounts on The Club and License Plate Covers

The St. Louis Police Department's World Series Tickets Scandal -- It's Back!

The St. Louis Police Department's World Series Tickets Scandal -- It's Back!

SLU Police Don't Need to Get Fit After All

Dirty Little Secrets

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department keeps a tight lid on internal affairs. Even if it means breaking the law.