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St. Louis police to zero in on downtown as crime concern grows

Published

2 years ago

May 12, 2023

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ST. LOUIS – There’s growing concern ahead of Mother’s Day weekend in the heart of downtown St. Louis after last weekend’s chaos and murders.

Barbara Forest doesn’t live far from the Arch grounds and said she wanted to get out before the storm.

“Good time for a walk,” Forest said. “I’m always on the lookout.”

She said there’s a need for a stronger police presence after last weekend’s 639 calls for service in 12 hours.

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Brandy Thomas lives near St. Louis has avoided downtown because of crime but decided to come during the day.

Thomas said extra officers downtown could help put a dent in some of the issues.

“Maybe an officer on the corner. Police on bikes, mobile, walking,” she said.

Major Ryan Cousins, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, said earlier this week the department will approach this weekend with different tactics.

“We will be increasing our police presence in downtown,” Cousins said.

The department said officers from mobile reserve, SWAT, and intelligence will work with district patrol officers to launch a summer violence and cruising detail.

The SLMPD confirmed it currently has 970 commissioned officers, out of its authorized strength of 1,224.

“We’re short obviously but we have officers all over the city,” Cousins said.

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Security was also top of mind at a Port Authority meeting Thursday where Commissioners signed off on applying for a $300,000 grant to improve security cameras along Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd., in front of the Arch.

Alan Morris lives in St. Louis and visited the Arch Thursday. He has his eye on the weekend and wants to see a stronger police presence.

Make it clear to wrongdoers, or potential wrongdoers,” Moris said.

In the meantime, everyone’s trying to keep things in perspective.

“I’m not going to stop coming downtown,” Forest said.

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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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