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St. LouiS AmericAn The
CAC Audited FEBRUARY 7 – 13, 2019
Vol. 90 No. 46 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Prosecutor accuses police of obstructing investigation Claims public employee protections used to shield officer from case By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American The shooting death of 24-year-old St. Louis Police Officer Katlyn Alix by another cop on January 24 has raised several concerns about the culture of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Among them is allegation that the police department has been creating roadblocks for the St. Louis circuit attorney to conduct parallel investigations into officer-involved shootings. “It’s frustrating,” said someone who has prosecuted such cases in the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office but asked to remain anonymous. “Citizens who are
n “It is no longer acceptable for the police to investigate themselves.” – St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner
involved in officer-involved shootings, they don’t get a level playing field in terms of an investigation. These cases are not handled like any of the other homicides, and it’s unfair.” In September 2014, then-Police Chief Sam Dotson established the Force
Investigative Unit (FIU) to handle criminal investigations for all officerinvolved shootings. At the same time, then-Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce pledged that her office would conduct an independent review of the FIU’s findings, but later began conducting independent investigations. The investigation into Alix’s death – where on-duty Officer Nathaniel Hendren allegedly killed Alix in a Russian roulette-style shooting – has revealed the challenges that the prosecutor’s office has faced in conducting parallel investigations, inside sources said.
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At a January 31 press conference, Police Chief John Hayden responded angrily to Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner’s claim that police obstructed her team’s investigation into an incident where Officer Nathaniel Hendren killed Officer Katlyn Alix. Photo by Wiley Price
Community mourns Rev. Demetrius L. Stewart
Jacques Robinson, 11, a student at L’Ouverture Middle School, and Mark Russell 10, a student at Shaw VPA Elementary School, looked over their LEGO robot during the FIRST LEGO League Eastern Championships at St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley on Saturday, February 2.
‘He fulfilled his purpose on earth,’ says wife of minister killed as innocent bystander By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American Family, friends and the St. Louis community prepare to say goodbye to Rev. Demetrius L. Stewart. The beloved 45-year-old Spanish Lake resident was a husband, dad, minister, mentor and friend whose life ended on February 1 as an innocent victim of gun violence, Demetrius a bystander to someone else’s L. Stewart altercation at the Tropicana Lanes bowling alley. A 24-year-old man was arrested and charged with his murder. On Monday, February 4, hundreds gathered
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Photo by Wiley Price
Surveillance and secrets Racial bias a concern with Real Time Crime Center By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American Part three of a series based on a six-month joint-investigation by The St. Louis American and Type Investigations. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, its Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) assisted in making 716 arrests, resulting in 1,912 charges from June 2015 to July 2,
State test scores are in – what do they mean? 97 percent of Missouri public schools scored in the fully accredited range By Ryan Delaney and Elle Moxley Of St. Louis Public Radio
2018. The American wanted to know more about what those charges entailed and if the number of arrests has increased over the years. In our public records request, we also asked for the log or database that the police used to track this information. The police replied, “No responsive records.”
Missouri education officials released longawaited school report cards on February 1, and the good news is most schools are meeting expectations. In fact, 97 percent of public schools scored in the fully accredited range, including Kansas City, Hickman Mills and Riverview Gardens — all districts trying to regain accreditation.
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