ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Three construction workers were charged with assaulting an off-duty police officer in a south St. Louis County roadway construction zone.
Matthew Devlin, Garrett Gibbs and Donnie Hurley are each facing charges of first-degree assault, armed criminal action and kidnapping.
Police said in court documents that on Sept. 26, officers were called to an assault at South Lindbergh Boulevard and Lemay Ferry Road.
Police said Devlin, Gibbs and Hurley got into a verbal argument with the victim, a St. Louis County police officer.
The department said at that time, the officer was off-duty, driving an unmarked car and in plain clothes.
Witnesses said Devlin used racial slurs while screaming at the victim. He said the officer did not "belong down here" and "go back to the hood with your gold chain," according to charging documents.
Police said Devlin then struck the man on the head with a hardhat. They said this led to Gibbs and Hurley holding the officer down while Devlin kept hitting him with the hardhat.
Hurley also choked the victim by holding him in a headlock until he couldn't breathe, police said.
Devlin was being held on a $250,000 bond while Hurley and Gibbs were being held on a $100,000 bond. All three men are in custody at the St. Louis County Jail in Clayton.
Devlin and Hurley have a bond reduction hearing set for Oct. 15. A court appearance has not been scheduled yet for Gibbs.
