Connect with us

News

As legal battles mount, Kim Gardner enrolled in SLU nursing classes

Published

on

[ad_1]

ST. LOUIS – As challenges mount for St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, FOX 2 has learned that she is enrolled in a nursing program at St. Louis University.

Gardner faces legal battles through quo warranto and indirect criminal contempt cases, along with a growing number of prosecutors resigning from her office. It’s a situation some in court proceedings have dubbed a “rudderless ship of chaos.”

FOX 2 learned that Gardner, while serving as circuit attorney, enrolled in courses at Saint Louis University. It’s unclear when exactly she began enrolling in these courses, though it came sometime since she became the circuit attorney.

At a news conference Wednesday, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said his office received information weeks ago that Gardner was taking classes at SLU, and has since issued several subpoenas to the school. Bailey is requesting the university turn over documents relating to Gardner’s class schedule, her hours and participation in class, hours she may have worked at the school, surveillance camera footage, and relevant conversation between the circuit attorney and her instructors at SLU.

The attorney general cited Missouri statute 56.445, which requires the circuit attorney and their assistants “devote their entire time and energy to the discharge of their official duties.”

“Obtaining a nursing degree is not one of her official duties. Prosecuting criminals is,” Bailey said. “Yet, she has consistently failed to charge new cases, inform and confer with victims, and move the cases she does charge to disposition.”

Bailey claimed Gardner’s refusal to step down puts lives and property in the City of St. Louis at risk.

“The criminal justice system in the City of St. Louis has ceased to function,” he said. “And people are suffering from her unlawful refusal to do her job.”

Grieving mom alleges CAO ‘negligence’ in daughter’s murder case

The Circuit Attorney’s Office released the following statement:

“Circuit Attorney Gardner believes the issues in our criminal justice system often relate to our broken healthcare system. After serving as a line attorney at the Circuit Attorney’s Office and seeing firsthand the underlying issues that drive crime, she became a Registered Nurse. She continues to stay current with classes at Saint Louis University to add to her training and advance her mission at the CAO. The Circuit Attorney has done this at great personal cost to her time with her family and loved ones. Any suggestion that she is not fully committed to her duties as Circuit Attorney is blatantly false.”

Also Wednesday, the Missouri Supreme Court appointed a new judge to oversee Bailey’s lawsuit against Gardner. The circuit attorney had asked for another judge to hear the case. Judge John Torbitzky granted that request and stepped down. Judge Thomas Chapman of the Missouri Court of Appeals will take his place.

Close Modal

Suggest a Correction

Suggest a Correction

[ad_2]

Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Man attacks Jeff Co. deputy with screwdriver during attempted arrest

Published

on

[ad_1]

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. – Two people are behind bars after a man reportedly attacked a Jefferson County deputy with a screwdriver during an attempted arrest over the weekend.

Prosecutors have charged Nicholas Davis, 47, and Amanda Davis, 45, of Dittmer, Missouri, with felonies in the investigation.

Illinois man charged with sharing sex video of former St. Louis County official

The alleged attack followed a traffic stop of a driver in the 9500 block of Jones Creek Road on July 7, though the driver was not Nicholas or Amanda.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Nicholas reportedly came out of his nearby home, yelled at a deputy and started approaching him while holding a screwdriver. The deputy initially ordered Nicholas to back away, then used pepper spray.

Per court documents, the deputy attempted to arrest Nicholas, who then struck him in the chest with the screwdriver. Amanda reportedly approached the deputy and pulled him away from Nicholas before both ran inside their home.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says the situation prompted an hours-long standoff involving negotiators, a SWAT team and a K-9 deputy. The situation led to Nicholas refusing warnings and being bitten by a K-9.

Nicholas and Amanda are both jailed in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. Nicholas is charged with first-degree assault on a special victim and armed criminal action. Amanda is charged with resisting/interfering with arrest.

Close Modal

Suggest a Correction

Suggest a Correction

[ad_2]

Source link

Continue Reading

News

St. Louis Public Schools superintendent to be sworn in

Published

on

[ad_1]

ST. LOUIS — The new St. Louis schools superintendent will be officially sworn into office today. Dr. Keisha Scarlett took over the job in July after the retirement of Dr. Kelvin Adams. She was assistant superintendent in the Seattle Public School District. The installation ceremony is at 6:15 p.m. before the regular school board meeting.

Close Modal

Suggest a Correction

Suggest a Correction

[ad_2]

Source link

Continue Reading

News

Gas tanker crashes into St. Louis Metro transit center

Published

on

[ad_1]

ST. LOUIS — A gasoline tanker truck crashed into a Metro transit center near Riverview and Hall Streets early Tuesday morning and knocked over a power pole. The pole is leaning on other power lines. Police have the area blocked off here because there is a downed power line. Ameren and Metro crews are also on the scene.

The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. It’s still unclear exactly what caused the crash, but we do that there was a second vehicle somehow involved. The airbags on that second vehicle did deploy.

Accused killer’s case thrown out over one question at trial

Police at the scene have not been able to give us a lot of details. Metro officials tell FOX 2 that the transit center here is operating this morning for passengers and buses. Access to certain areas will be limited here as clean up unfolds.

A Metro spokesperson says half of the station isn’t being used right now because of safety issues. It isn’t impacting overall bus operations, everything is just happening on the other side of transit center.

The extent of the damage to the actual transit center is still unclear, but I’m told it does not appear to be extreme. A Metro spokesperson tells me there were no injuries to any metro workers or passengers. The tanker driver also was not injured.

Close Modal

Suggest a Correction

Suggest a Correction

[ad_2]

Source link

Continue Reading

Trending