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Controversy after reckless driving suspects released by Circuit Attorney’s Office

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ST. LOUIS – FOX 2 has learned police arrested two suspects in an alarming case of reckless driving caught on camera in St. Louis.

The individuals were in a stolen vehicle with suspected narcotics and an illegal weapon, according to police.

However, they were freed within hours because of a Circuit Attorney’s Office policy on reviewing cases involving suspected narcotics.

Surveillance video shows vehicle after vehicle blowing through a 4-way stop outside the historic Crown Candy Kitchen at 14th Street and St. Louis Avenue shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday. It seemed to be just another case of reckless driving in St. Louis. It turned out police were pursuing at least one stolen vehicle and made the two arrests.

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“Well good, I’m glad. Something just needs to be done,” said Crown Candy customer, Joann Brauss, of Florissant. “Boy, it’s just gotten crazy trying maneuver between all of the cars. It’s just not right. We want to keep coming (to Crown Candy).”

“It’s nice to know these guys are (pursued) and caught, hopefully,” Andy Karandzieff, Crown Candy owner, said.

Though caught in this case, they were released pending felony charges.

The stretch of St. Louis Avenue in front of Crown Candy is popular among car thieves because of close access to Interstate 70 and the Stan Musial Bridge into Illinois. Such was the case Sunday night.

Police claim a silver Ram pickup truck was stolen on Feb. 22. Accomplices were following close behind it, and of the drivers were speeding as they ran through the 4-way stop.

They eventually headed for the bridge, but officers were able to spike the pickup’s tires. The truck came to a stop near the bridge entrance. Six people got out and ran, four of whom jumped into one of the trailing vehicles. Officers arrested the other two men in a nearby field.

One of the men had suspected narcotics, while the other allegedly had a Glock handgun with an illegal auto-sear device, making it a rapid-fire automatic weapon.

Yet, in spite of the dangerous driving in a stolen vehicle with an illegal weapon and suspected illegal drugs, the suspects were released pending application for felony charges.

“What kind of message does that send to criminals and to law-abiding citizens? It’s kind of the wild west out here,” Karandzieff said. “We’re all fending for ourselves, hoping and praying we’re not the victims of this crime. We all just want to live someplace safe and not have to worry about crossing the street or going through a green light.”

“We just hope things start changing,” Brauss said.

Police claim the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office requires lab results for cases involving suspected narcotics before considering any other charges. In this case, those other charges include vehicle tampering, resisting arrest, and illegal weapon possession.

A spokeswoman for the Circuit Attorney’s Office, on the other hand, said that the police claim was not true and that any case involving a threat to public safety should be looked at within 24 hours.

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Man attacks Jeff Co. deputy with screwdriver during attempted arrest

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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.

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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.

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St. Louis Public Schools superintendent to be sworn in

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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.

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Gas tanker crashes into St. Louis Metro transit center

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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.

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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.

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