Current:Home > StocksA police SUV slammed into a bar in St. Louis. Police response drawing scrutiny -AssetLink
A police SUV slammed into a bar in St. Louis. Police response drawing scrutiny
View
Date:2025-04-15 11:57:35
ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis police are pledging a thorough investigation after a police SUV slammed into a bar. But supporters of the bar question why one of the owners was arrested in the aftermath of the accident, while the officers in the SUV were not tested for intoxication.
No one was hurt early Monday when the police car struck the front of Bar:PM in south St. Louis but the front window was smashed. Video footage released Wednesday by Javad Khazaeli, the attorney for the bar owners, showed what he said was the same police SUV running a red light seconds before the crash. Another video showed the SUV suddenly veer into the building.
A message left Thursday with police was not immediately returned.
Chad Morris, who owns the bar with his husband, was arrested and charged with assault and resisting arrest for allegedly striking an officer after the crash, then trying to run away. He was released from jail Tuesday. Supporters packed the bar that night.
Police Lt. Col. Renee Kriesmann said during a news briefing Wednesday that the officers involved in the crash were not tested for drugs or alcohol because other officers at the crash scene did not have reasonable suspicion of impairment, as required by department policy for toxicology testing.
Both officers have less than a year of experience with the department and remain on active duty, Kriesmann said.
“We would like to ensure to the owners of the bar and the community that every aspect of this incident is being thoroughly investigated,” Kriesmann said.
But Khazaeli questioned if the officers were getting special treatment.
“If I crashed into a building, while speeding, after midnight, after running a stop light, there is no way that I could have a co-worker decide that I should not get a breathalyzer,” Khazaeli wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Security camera video from the opposite side of the street from the bar, released by Khazaeli earlier this week, showed the police SUV on a mostly desolate street suddenly swerve across the center line and slam into the front of the bar. Kriesmann said the officer driving the SUV was distracted while adjusting the radio and then swerved to avoid hitting a parked car.
Khazaeli has claimed the SUV was speeding, but Kriesmann said it was going about 40 mph (64 kph) before the accident and 20 mph (32 kph) upon impact, according to the black box in the vehicle that records data.
The officers were wearing body cameras but police declined to release footage, citing the ongoing investigation. The SUV did not have a dash camera, police said.
veryGood! (4)
Related
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- 2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
Ranking
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
Recommendation
Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
Louvre will undergo expansion and restoration project, Macron says
The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates