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Politician pleads guilty to stealing after multiple Fox Files reports

Published

2 years ago

June 9, 2023

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BRIDGETON, Mo. – A politician FOX 2 first busted for living in a different state from where he drew a councilman’s salary admitted guilt Thursday.

“What do you say to citizens who thought you were representing them?” FOX 2 asked as Andrew Purcell walked out of court with his attorney, Thomas Kissell. Kissell said they had no comment.

Purcell struck a plea deal that saves him six months in jail if he abides by the terms of his one-year probation for misdemeanor stealing without consent.

He has been the focus of multiple Fox Files investigations, beginning in April 2022, when we told you he had quietly moved for a job in Illinois while making excuses for why he wasn’t showing up for his then-job as a Bridgeton city councilman.

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In May 2022, we confronted him, asking, “What’s your response to living in Illinois and getting paid as a Bridgeton councilman?” Purcell would only respond, “I have no comment at this time.”

Purcell never answered FOX 2 or Bridgeton citizens in person. However, he did apologize with a post on Facebook, which Bridgeton Mayor Terry Briggs questioned.

“The issue that I guess that I have with it is—wait a minute—you know, (apologizing on social media) is a lot different than maybe coming to a public meeting and saying it out loud to the people that, ‘Hey, I screwed up and I’m sorry for what I did,’” Briggs said.

Purcell came clean to a judge Thursday. The plea deal with the St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office included Purcell handing over a $6,000 certified check for what he took from Bridgeton citizens. He also cannot run for office during his one-year probation.

“The individual prosecutor, in particular, she did a great job in pursuing it, not letting it fall apart,” Briggs said.

There’s another possible consequence, as Thursday’s legal filing against Purcell will go to the Illinois and Missouri Bar Associations. Purcell, who is licensed as an attorney in both states, could face additional discipline.

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Man attacks Jeff Co. deputy with screwdriver during attempted arrest

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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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

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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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

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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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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