ARNOLD, Mo. -- Charges have been filed against 52-year-old Noel Christner Kuebler, Jr. for his part in shooting two Arnold police officers Friday afternoon.
The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is pursuing three counts of Assault 1st on a Law Enforcement Officer, three counts of Armed Criminal Action, and one count of Felony Resisting Arrest. His bond was set at $750,000 cash only, and he is currently being held in Jefferson County Jail.
The officers have both been released from the hospital but will continue to be treated for their injuries.
They are expected to make a full recovery.
According to the police, Kuebler shot officers Jason Gorentein and John Palme with a shotgun loaded with birdshot.
Arnold police say they're lucky a shooting that injured two police officers Friday wasn't worse.
New cell phone video released captures police arresting a 52-year-old man accused of shooting two veteran Arnold police officers in the face.
A spokesman for the Arnold Police Department said the officers were shot while responding to a family disturbance at around 2:40 Friday afternoon at Jeffco Estates mobile home park on the 2100 block of Plaza Drive, near the Fox C-6 School District campus.
They say the suspect fired a shotgun once in the air then fired twice at officers as they ran for cover. Arnold Police Chief Robert Shockey said the suspect, a 52-year-old man, went back into his house for a short time before surrendering to officers. The suspect was taken to the hospital, but has since been released and is in police custody.
Arnold police identified the officers as Corporal Jason Gorenstein, a 19-year veteran with Arnold, and Officer John Palme, a nine year veteran with Arnold and has served 30 years in law enforcement.
First responders took the officers to St. Anthony's Medical Center in South St. Louis County. Police say one officer was hit in his face and eye area.
The other had wounds in his shoulder and forehead.
Police Chief Robert Shockey says thankfully neither suffered permanent damage.
Police are not releasing the officers' conditions. They were expected to be released from the hospital last night.
The incident prompted a lockdown at Fox Elementary School and the Early Childhood Center. A message to parents from Fox School District Superintendent Jim Wipke said they were informed of suspicious activity near the campuses and immediately went into lockdown. Once given the all-clear, the school resumed normal activity.
The last officer involved shooting for the department was in 1976, when an officer was shot and killed.
Video: First Press Conference
