ST. LOUIS — After reports of an alleged, attempted carjacking of a marked St. Louis police SUV, the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office said facts about the case were “deliberately misrepresented” by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD).
Gardener said her office’s investigation “revealed a serious breach of trust” in the city’s criminal justice system. During a press conference, the Circuit Attorney's office showed the video they say dispute the claims of the officer.
The investigation involves a March 19 incident near Chouteau and Tucker. Police say officers were responding to a call when a person ran into the street, blocked the marked police SUV, ran to the passenger side of the vehicle, then pointed a gun at the officers before running off. The suspect was arrested and police filed charges which included attempted carjacking.
On March 23, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner tweeted that the evidence provided by the SLMPD did not support a first-degree robbery/carjacking charge, but an unlawful use of a weapon/flourishing charge.
The statement says any suggestion that the evidence supports the first-degree robbery/carjacking charge is “an unfortunate and inaccurate characterization.” It went on to say, “Investigations take time, and we should wait until the facts are submitted and reviewed.”
Tuesday, the Circuit Attorney’s Office tweeted a statement saying it does not typically comment publicly due to ethical reasons, but was “compelled to share the facts of what is now a closed case as the integrity of the criminal justice system had been threatened.”
Gardner's office released video of that evening during a press conference this afternoon. You can watch it here.
During a press conference Tuesdsay, Chris Hinckley, chief warrant officer for the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office, explained how the video proves that officers lied about the carjacking.
He said statements from the body camera footage are different from the account given by officer “No. 1” and that the accounts also are different from the police report.
Gardner says her office's investigation showed that law enforcement officers, under the direction of a supervising Lieutenant, deliberately misrepresented the facts of a case.
“In every case, the Circuit Attorney’s Office is dedicated to ensuring that the office carries out its duty to prosecute criminal cases in a manner that seeks justice rather than just convictions on behalf of the residents of the City of St. Louis.”
Spectrum News has reached out to SLMPD for comment and is waiting to hear back.