St. Louis Police Arrest Two Men on Car Clouting Charges; One May Be Serial Offender

This just in. Fresh on the heels of rash of car break-ins in downtown St. Louis, police have arrested two men on charges of car clouting.

The suspects -- James Palmer and Joshua Hollingsworth -- were officially charged Tuesday.

According to police, 20-year-old Palmer broke into a vehicle last Thursday in the 4300 block of McRee. Since filing that initial charge, investigators say they have now linked Palmer to other car break-ins in the Gate District, Botanical Heights, Forest Park Southeast and the Jeff Vanderlou neighborhoods.

Palmer now faces a dozen felony charges, including six counts of first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, two counts of theft/stealing over $500 and four counts of theft/stealing under $500.

A judge has ordered Palmer, of the 2800 block of Madison, held on a $150,000 cash-only bond. Court records show St. Louis police arrested Palmer in April for unlawful use of a weapon. That charge remains pending in circuit court.

Meanwhile, the 32-year-old Hollingsworth was caught breaking into a vehicle Monday in the 1400 block of Mississippi in Lafayette Square. Hollingsworth, of the 1500 block of nearby Hickory Street, is charged with theft/stealing under $500. Court records show no priors for him.