ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department SUV crashed into the front door of a south St. Louis bar early Monday morning, and one of the bar's owners is now facing charges after a confrontation with police.
The owners of Bar:PM at the intersection of Blow Street and South Broadway were asleep above the bar at about 12:30 a.m. when they heard a crash. When they came downstairs, they said they saw the 2020 police Chevrolet Tahoe had crashed into the front door of the bar.
"I was actually already in bed (and) I heard a loud boom," owner James Pence said. "I jumped up thinking it was an accident with a vehicle. And then, I saw it,and it was a St. Louis city police department vehicle in the front of our building."
Pence and his partner, Chad Morris, said police told them an officer swerved to avoid a dog, lost control of the SUV and crashed into the building. The owners said they didn't believe the story.
Later in the day, an incident summary released by police said the officer was trying to avoid hitting a parked car when the officer swerved and crashed into the building without a mention of the dog.
Pence said he and Morris confronted police after the crash. Morris hit an officer during the confrontation and was handcuffed and put in a squad car, Pence said Monday.
Later Monday, charges of third-degree assault of a special victim and resisting arrest were filed against Morris.
According to a probable cause statement written by an officer who arrived to help with the investigation, Morris was yelling and causing a disturbance as the officer was trying to secure the scene.
"As I was explaining to (Morris) that I would speak with him in several minutes, the defendant struck me hard in the chest with an open hand, causing me to temporarily lose my balance," the probable cause statement said. The statement went on to say that Morris "tried to flee" after he was told he was under arrest, walked through a gate and tried to strike the officer with it, and then pushed a trash can toward another officer.
Attorney Javad Khazaeli is representing Chad Morris. On Tuesday, he said he had video footage of the incident that showed his client did not strike the officer and that the officer told him he was being arrested because he yelled at the officer and caused a peace disturbance.
“That is a complete and utter fabrication,” Khazaeli said of the allegation that his client struck the officer.
Morris walked away from the incident with multiple injuries. Khazaeli said that the unreleased video shows the bar owners weren't the ones in the wrong here.
"The video shows him being dragged to a car with his clothes ripped off of him. He was stunned, and then they body slam him into the hood of a car and then they don't secure him. They throw him onto the floor of the back of a police wagon and drive off," Khazaeli said.
Morris and Pence were able to re-open Bar:PM Tuesday night with a lot of support from the community.
"It's amazing to see everybody come together. And I mean, it was crisis mode. We had to do something and we had to do it now. And these guys do so much for the community so it was only fair that we help them," a friend of the bar owners Mark Moore said.
Morris spoke to a big crowd Tuesday night.
"It’s been an emotional rollercoaster both mentally and physically. And a rather humbling experience but I guess i just want to say thank you all for your support and for letting me get to spend my husband’s birthday with him so thank you," Morris said.
Khaezali also said the officers were driving erratically before the crash at a high rate of speed.
Prosecutors told 5 On Your Side Tuesday that they amended charges against Morris to fourth-degree assault and resisting arrest, which are both misdemeanors, and Morris was released at about 11:30 a.m. from the St. Louis City Justice Center.
Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore's spokesman said he cannot comment on pending cases.
The crash bent the frame of the bar's entrance and shattered glass. No one was injured.
The department said the officers in the SUV—the 32-year-old driver and 22-year-old passenger—are both probationary officers in their first year of service. Both officers were also working an overtime shift.
A department spokesperson did not say whether the officers were wearing body cameras, or whether they had been tested for any impairment following the crash.
The spokesperson, Evita Caldwell, wrote: "All available video footage will be reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation. Additionally, each crash involving a police vehicle is subsequently reviewed by a Department Accident Review Board, who assesses whether or not the conduct of the involved officer was consistent with established rules or procedures of this Department or the existing standards regulating the operation of motor vehicles applicable to all members of the community. When an officer's conduct, or operation of the motor vehicle, does not meet these standards, or is outside of established policy, internal discipline would be imposed, and the employee would be required to attend a driver's training program."
Department policy about toxicology testing states an officer can be tested if there is "reasonable suspicion or following a critical incident."
A critical incident is defined as, "anytime an employee discharges his/her weapon (except at an approved firing range) and an individual is struck, or any other incident/accident which results in the death of or serious physical harm to any individual."
So, it remains unclear whether the officers were tested for impairment following this incident because there were no injuries.
Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer says she's pressing the department for answers.
"I've managed to talk with Chief Tracy multiple times. I think they've been very responsive to me and I know they're investigating what happened, and I hope that it's coming to a speedy resolution," Schweitzer said.
Mayor Tishaura Jones released a statement saying, in part, "The officers involved will be held accountable for any misconduct committed while on duty."
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