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RFT Reviews the Week: February 27 to March 5, 2023 | St. Louis Metro News | St. Louis

Published

2 years ago

March 6, 2023

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click to enlarge CITY SC fans unveiled a huge tifo over the supporter’s section before the beginning of the team’s first-ever home game on Saturday.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27 An execution-style killing on the edge of downtown St. Louis has the anti-Gardner crowd eagerly sharing snuff films on social media. That includes KMOX’s Kevin Killeen, hitherto known chiefly for his hatred of February, and St. Louis’ own Gateway Pundit. Disturbing. Meanwhile, Cori Bush got hitched! The lucky man, Cortney Merritts, previously worked security for Bush’s campaign and was paid accordingly. Only in St. Louis could something that everyone acknowledges is not actually a campaign finance violation still yield dozens of column inches about the potential for campaign finance violations.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28 A pro-Kim Gardner rally in downtown St. Louis draws fewer people than the ballot in some aldermanic races. At least the weather is beautiful? Gardner’s supporters are calling on Judge Bryan Hettenbach to resign and Mayor Tishaura Jones to apologize for failing to support Gardner. Sure, maybe when the River Des Peres no longer stinks. Meanwhile, the Post-Dispatch digs into a crash near Carondelet Park on Saturday. Citizens apparently called in complaints about a traffic signal facing the wrong way on Wednesday, days before the crash. Police also noticed it was facing the wrong way when they reported to the scene Saturday. But never fear, city leaders say it was fixed Thursday, and neighbors backed them up. Even so, we can’t help but wonder about that “fix.” Isn’t the most plausible explanation that someone did a half-assed job, called it good enough and went home for the day — only for the signal to swing back into the wrong spot again? We’re in St. Louis; never underestimate the potential for rank incompetence.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1 Ace P-D photojournalist David Carson covers a balloon vigil memorializing the high-profile car accident that killed four and wounded another four the previous Sunday — but in addition to the mourning, he captures an attendee flashing his gun, even while wearing an ankle bracelet. Yikes. Things are so bad, even progressive city leaders are now floating the idea of red-light cameras as a fix for the city’s lawlessness. Yeah, that’ll solve everything. Meanwhile in D.C., the Supreme Court hears arguments in the Missouri AG’s attempt to block student loan forgiveness. Even Amy Coney Barrett seems skeptical that the Show-Me State has standing. Should have listened to St. Louis-based Judge Henry Autrey — he bounced the suit out of court for just that reason last October.

THURSDAY, MARCH 2 Fox 2 reports a man was robbed in the Fountain Park neighborhood by a total of 11 armed suspects. They asked to borrow his phone only to demand his passcode at gunpoint and then take off with the phone. The Wall Street Journal has reported on the trend of people using force or deception to garner iPhone passcodes and, once inside, emptying victims’ bank accounts and going to town making purchases through all their apps. Yet another thing to worry about on these mean streets. Also: Congratulations to former Cards’ third baseman Scott Rolen, whose greatness is now Cooperstown official!

FRIDAY, MARCH 3 Balmy weather turns into pouring rain, and we get one of those regular reminders of St. Louis drivers’ utter inability to navigate wet weather. Y’all know you can slow down, right? Also, disgraced South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh is sentenced to two consecutive life terms for the murders of his wife and son. It takes the jury just 45 minutes to find Murdaugh guilty. We’re still surprised he didn’t manage to pull a Pam Hupp and blame it on a family friend. Or do only St. Louis-area cops fall for that skullduggery?

SATURDAY, MARCH 4 Everyone who’s anyone turned out at CITYPARK to watch St. Louis City SC’s home opener — and the city’s hottest ticket became another victory! The region has been in an increasingly foul mood in recent years. Could professional soccer be what it takes to bring us together? Worth noting: The soccer celebration wasn’t marred by out-of-control drivers or marauding packs of thieves. Somehow, when they need to, the police manage to control the local chaos.

SUNDAY, MARCH 5 The swamp monkeys escape their cages at the St. Louis Zoo, and with that, a chill slithers down our spine. Yes, it was funny when Ben the Bear did it, but surely we can agree poop-hurling simians are another story. Good news: Unlike the perps of just about every other high-profile caper in St. Louis in recent years, these jailbreakers were swiftly apprehended. Also: Congratulations to the lady Billikens. They’re going to the NCAA tournament. The news isn’t as good for the Battlehawks: Our homegrown XFL team lost to the D.C. Defenders.

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Fenton Man Charged in Sword Attack on Roommate

Published

7 months ago

May 22, 2024

Natural Bridge

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A warrant is out for a Fenton man’s arrest after he allegedly attacked his roommate with a sword.

Police say that on Sunday, Angelus Scott spoke openly about “slicing his roommate’s head” before he grabbed a sword, raised it up and then swung it down at the roommate.

The roommate grabbed Scott’s hand in time to prevent injury. When police arrived at the scene, they found the weapon used in the assault.

The sword in question was a katana, which is a Japanese sword recognizable for its curved blade.

This isn’t the first time a samurai-style sword has been used to violent effect in St. Louis. In 2018, a man hearing voices slaughtered his ex-boyfriend with a samurai sword. His mother said he suffered from schizoaffective disorder.

As for Scott, 35, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office was charged yesterday with two felonies, assault first degree and armed criminal action. The warrant for his arrest says he is to be held on $200,000 bond.

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Caught on Video, Sheriff Says He’s Ready to ‘Turn It All Over’ to Deputy

Published

7 months ago

May 22, 2024

Natural Bridge

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Video of St. Louis Sheriff Vernon Betts taken by a former deputy suggests that the sheriff has a successor in mind to hand the reins of the department over to, even as Betts is in an increasingly heated campaign for reelection.

“I ain’t here for all this rigmarole,” Betts says in the video while seated behind his desk at the Carnahan Courthouse. “The Lord sent me here to turn this department around and I’m doing the best I can and I think I’ve done a good job. I’ve got about eight months and I’m going to qualify for my fourth pension.”

He goes on, “Right now I can walk up out of here and live happily ever after and forget about all this…and live like a king.”

The sheriff then says his wife has been in Atlanta looking at houses and that the other deputy in the room, Donald Hawkins, is someone Betts has been training “to turn it all over to him.”

Asked about the video, Betts tells the RFT, “My future plans are to win reelection on August 6th by a wide margin and to continue my mission as the top elected law enforcement official to make St. Louis safer and stronger. Serving the people of St. Louis with integrity, honor and professional law enforcement qualifications is a sacred responsibility, and I intend to complete that mission.”

The video of Betts was taken by Barbara Chavers, who retired from the sheriff’s office in 2016 after 24 years of service. Chavers now works security at Schnucks at Grand and Gravois. Betts’ brother Howard works security there, too.

Chavers tells the RFT that she was summoned to Betts’ office last week after Betts’ brother made the sheriff aware that she was supporting Montgomery. It was no secret: Chavers had filmed a Facebook live video in which she said she was supporting Betts’ opponent Alfred Montgomery in the election this fall. “Make the judges safe,” she says in the video, standing in front of a large Montgomery sign on Gravois Avenue. “They need a sheriff who is going to make their courtrooms safe.”

In his office, even as Chavers made clear she was filming him, Betts told Chavers he was “flabbergasted” and “stunned” she was supporting Montgomery.

“I don’t know what I did that would make you go against the preacher man,” he says, referring to himself. He then refers to Montgomery as “ungodly.”

Betts goes on to say that not long ago, he was walking in his neighborhood on St. Louis Avenue near 20th Street when suddenly Montgomery pulled up in his car and, according to Betts, shouted, “You motherfucker, you this, you that. You’re taking my signs down.”

Montgomery tells the RFT that he’s never interacted with Betts outside of candidate forums and neighborhood meetings.

“I don’t think anyone with good sense would do something like that to a sitting sheriff,” Montgomery says.

Montgomery has had campaign signs missing and on at least two occasions has obtained video of people tearing them down. (Chavers notes that the sign that she filmed her original Facebook video in front of is itself now missing.)

One man who lives near Columbus Square says that he recently put out two Montgomery signs, which later went missing. “If they keep taking them, I’ll keep putting them up,” he said.

Betts says he has nothing to do with the missing signs. In the video Chavers filmed in Betts’ office, Betts says that his campaign isn’t in a spot where it needs to resort to tearing down opponents’ signs.

“If you sit here long enough, a man is getting ready to come across the street from City Hall bringing me $500, today,” Betts says. “I’m getting that kind of support. I don’t need to tear down signs.”

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St. Louis to Develop First Citywide Transportation Plan in Decades

Published

7 months ago

May 21, 2024

Natural Bridge

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The City of St. Louis is working to develop its first citywide mobility plan in decades, Mayor Tishaura Jones’ office announced Tuesday. This plan seeks to make it easier for everyone — drivers, pedestrians, bikers and public transit users — to safely commute within the city.

The plan will bring together other city projects like the Brickline Greenway, Future64, the MetroLink Green Line, and more, “while establishing new priorities for a safer, more efficient and better-maintained transportation network across the City,” according to the release.

The key elements in the plan will be public engagement, the development of a safety action plan, future infrastructure priorities and transportation network mapping, according to Jones’ office.

The overarching goals are to create a vision for citywide mobility, plan a mixture of short and long-term mobility projects and to develop improved communication tools with the public to receive transportation updates. In recent years, both people who use public transit and cyclists have been outspoken about the difficulties — and dangers — of navigating St. Louis streets, citing both cuts to public transit and traffic violence.

To garner public input and participation for the plan, Jones’ office said there will be community meetings, focus groups and a survey for residents to share their concerns. The city will also be establishing a Community Advisory Committee. Those interested in learning more should check out at tmp-stl.com/

“Everyone deserves to feel safe when getting around St. Louis, whether they’re driving, biking, walking or taking public transit,” Jones said in a news release. “Creating a comprehensive transportation and mobility plan allows us to make intentional and strategic investments so that moving around St. Louis for jobs, education, and entertainment becomes easier, safer and more enjoyable.”

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