ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — A man was charged Tuesday after police said he threatened his romantic partner, whom he'd met on an online dating app and moved in with shortly after, with a gun during an argument.
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged 36-year-old Tony Bess Jr., of St. Louis, with unlawful use of a firearm/exhibiting, which is a Class E felony. He also faces unlawful possession of a firearm because he is a convicted felon, which is a Class D felony. If convicted, he could serve between one day to one year in jail with an additional seven years in prison, and pay a $10,000 fine for each felony charge.
The victim told investigators with the Hazelwood Police Department that they met Bess in early December on an online dating app, and Bess moved into the victim's home days later.
On Dec. 8, Bess and the victim got into an argument inside the home and Bess tried to threaten her with a Ruger 9mm handgun, police said. The victim said the two got into another argument the following day when she decided to call police.
The victim told responding officers that Bess threatened her the previous day with a gun and that he had narcotic drugs in his possession. A K-9 officer found the presence of drugs inside Bess' car and when officers searched it, they found the gun used in the incident. Officers also found a white powdery residue inside the car, police said.
As police took Bess into custody, they found a small clear plastic baggie that held the same white powdery substance seen in his car earlier. Police sent to baggie to their crime lab for further analysis and entered it into evidence.
Bess remains in custody at the Hazelwood Police Department on a $300,000 bond.
Resources for crime victims:
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
Cure Violence is an international organization that is present in a handful of St. Louis neighborhoods. Violence interrupters are trained to de-escalate violent situations within their own communities.
