For the three 2006 World Series games in St. Louis against the Detroit Tigers, the St. Louis Police Department assembled a World Series Scalping Detail from the narcotics/vice team comprised of one lieutenant, three sergeants, and 18 detectives. Their job was to arrest any scalpers selling tickets above face value, a crime in Missouri at the time.

The detail seized 98 tickets from 44 arrests. Of those 98 tickets, 34 of them—or 35 percent—were given by the arresting officers to family or friends, who then used the tickets themselves. Eight of the 18 detectives on the detail re-appropriated tickets. Confiscated scalped tickets were used for all three home games, often mere hours after the arrests and seizures.

Recently released documents made available by the ACLU after years of legal battles with the police department reveal details into how the operation functioned and was ultimately discovered.

At 4:15 PM on the day of Game 5, Detective Michael Ehnes arrested Eric Johnson for scalping. Ehnes seized from Johnson two tickets in section 132, great seats to watch the eventual World Series-clinching win, along with $2,600 in cash—for which they refused to give him a receipt—according to Johnson’s complaint. Johnson subsequently overheard the officer on a phone asking his wife if she’d be interested in using the tickets for that evening’s game. The tickets were scanned for entry into Busch Stadium roughly two hours later, at 6:24 PM, plenty of time before the 7:30 PM first pitch. After the game, the tickets were then returned to Ehnes, who brought them back to the evidence locker, as all the other officers did, so as to not arouse any suspicion. When Johnson was released from custody, he claims he was only given back $539.

The sad reality of American policing oversight is that none of this likely would have ever come to light if Johnson hadn’t overheard that call. Johnson’s complaint triggered an internal affairs investigation that lasted more than a year. Proving the tickets had been used was hardly a challenge: every ticket scanned and used is logged in the Cardinals’ internal system, common practice amongst sports teams these days. It’s unclear whether the officers involved knew of this practice and simply thought no one would ever look into it, or were oblivious.

It’s difficult to believe the officers’ claims they did not seize the tickets simply to give them to family and friends given that the tickets were often used in a matter of a few hours. Also, the high percentage of tickets that were used after being seized also seems to indicate some type of prior planning.

In addition, the Internal Affairs investigation revealed a litany of procedural errors and mishandling of evidence within the narcotics unit, including keeping cash in amounts less than $2,000 in the department’s safe for extended periods of time before being turned over to the evidence locker.

More than anything else, the ticket broker scandal illustrates the various unintended consequences of outlawing scalpers and secondary markets in general. The very next year, Missouri legalized flipping tickets for profit, much to the dismay of brokers. “You made more money when it was illegal — it wasn’t even remotely close,” Tony Green, a ticket broker for 20 years, told the St. Louis Post Dispatch. “We knew all the cops, so they wouldn’t bust us.” By outlawing scalpers—ostensibly a measure to protect ticket-buyers from predatory pricing—the chosen few brokers who remained in business could jack up their prices even further, while the cops would give them protection and seize tickets for their own personal use under the guise of protecting the consumer.

Still, asset forfeiture remains a major problem among American law enforcement, in which officers seizing cash, vehicles, or real estate on specious grounds happens all too often. The internal affairs investigation didn’t address Johnson’s accusation regarding the seized cash, but this has been a well-documented problem in another criminalized market: drugs. Almost a billion dollars of worth of cash, cars, boats, real estate, and other property is forfeited to the federal government every year, according to a PBS Frontline report.

The ticket scandal illustrates one more flaw in American policing too: slaps on the wrist for officer violations of ethics and procedure. Although the St. Louis Police Board of Commissioners stated that their punishment of demotions, two-week suspensions, and reductions in pay was “not a slap on the wrist,” it’s hard to imagine any other profession in which brazen theft while on the job wouldn’t result in a firing, at least. Perhaps it’s also worth noting the maximum sentence for illegally selling tickets in Missouri was six months in jail.

Police stand by the site where Mansur Ball-Bey was shot on August 20.

The family and friends of an unarmed teenager shot by St. Louis police gathered for his funeral Saturday, but closure over the controversial killing is still a long way off.

Police say Mansur Ball-Bey, 18, was running out of a house they were searching for drugs and weapons, then turned and pointed a gun at them. They say police shot him in self-defense, but Ball-Bey kept running — dropping the gun in the back yard and ultimately collapsing in the front yard.

But the police department’s story is starting to fall apart as more medical evidence comes to light.

First, an autopsy showed that Ball-Bey was shot in the back. Police Chief Sam Dotson said this didn’t necessarily prove or disprove the officers’ story. Then last week a medical examiner determined that the bullet severed Ball-Bey’s spine and also punctured his heart, which would have killed him immediately — making it extremely unlikely that he was able to run several yards after being shot.

Police officers frequently defend shootings by claiming that their victims were unstoppable and immune to bullets. Officer Darren Wilson described the unarmed teenager Michael Brown as a “demon” who continued to charge at him through the bullets. In another recent case, an officer fired at Dontre Hamilton, a mentally ill black man, 14 times because he said Hamilton was so unaffected by the gun that he “didn’t flinch” after the first shot.

His family also says Ball-Bey was not at the house the police were searching, but was an innocent bystander at his friend’s house nearby.

Ball-Bey’s shooting occurred on the anniversary of the shooting of Kajieme Powell, also by St. Louis police. Protests over Ball-Bey’s death escalated quickly as police showed up in riot gear, cars were set on fire, and demonstrators were hit with tear gas.

The community commemorated Ball-Bey on Saturday, and a memorial has been set up at the site of his shooting.

The Circuit Attorney’s office has launched an investigation into the incident.

by Aviva Shen, ThinkProgress

A black teenager shot and killed by white St. Louis cops this week died from a single gunshot that entered his back and struck his heart, a medical examiner said on Friday, which appears to contradict the police account of the shooting.

News of the preliminary results of an autopsy escalated tensions that had flared after Wednesday’s killing of Mansur Ball-Bey, as protesters and family of the slain 18-year-old questioned police accounts that he pointed a gun at officers.

In angry clashes Wednesday night, officers in riot gear fired tear gas and more protests followed on Thursday night.

Fresh protests are planned for Friday night in the area of the shooting, according to social media posts by activists.

St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson said additional officers would be available for the weekend in anticipation of further protests. He said he met with Gov. Jay Nixon and the Missouri Highway Patrol Friday to arrange for state assistance if needed.

Less than two weeks ago the St. Louis area was flooded with protesters from across the country marking the anniversary of the Aug. 9, 2014, killing of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown by a white police officer in nearby Ferguson, Missouri.

Brown’s death was one of a series of police killings of unarmed black men and teens across the United States that sparked a newly energized civil rights movement under the banner “Black Lives Matter”.

Autopsy results show a bullet struck Ball-Bey in the upper right of his back, hitting his heart and an artery next to it, said St. Louis Chief Medical Examiner Michael Graham.

The autopsy findings appear to contradict the version of the shooting given by police, who said two officers shot at Ball-Bey when he pointed a gun at them as he fled a home where police were serving a search warrant. Police said Ball-Bey dropped his weapon and continued running after he was shot.

The position and track of the bullet, which did not exit Ball-Bey’s body, show that he was not turned toward officers when he was shot, Graham said. The shot would have killed him nearly instantly, making it difficult if not impossible for him to keep running, though if he was running there would have been some forward momentum, Graham said.

Graham said it was impossible to tell from the autopsy whether Ball-Bey was slightly turned, or was twisting his torso toward officers when he was shot.

“There are so many variables,” said Graham. “But he certainly wasn’t facing, his chest wasn’t facing the officers.”

The results of the autopsy are preliminary and evidence was still being gathered, Dotson said, but he said one witness had corroborated officer accounts that Ball-Bey had a gun.

“The complete truth takes time to put together,” he told a press conference. “We must let the physical evidence lead us to our conclusions.”

Police said they had recovered a gun, which they determined was stolen, though they do not know if Ball-Bey’s finger prints were on it, Dotson said.

Jermaine Wooten, an attorney representing Ball-Bey’s family, told CNN Friday no witnesses had seen the teenager with a gun.

Wooten said Ball-Bey did not live in the community and was visiting relatives but not at the house where police were serving the warrant, he said.

“He never had a gun. He did not point back toward the officers,” Wooten told CNN. He said Ball-Bey could not have run more than a few feet after being shot, which contradicts police statements.

A report containing evidence gathered in Ball-Bey’s shooting will be turned over to the city attorney and the U.S. Attorney in St. Louis for review, police officials said.

Antonio French, a St. Louis Alderman and prominent voice in the black community, called for the circuit attorney of St. Louis to conduct a simultaneous investigation of the shooting.

Suspended Detective Natalie Williams of the St. Louis Police

ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis Detective who was a member of a community outreach program promoting ethical police behavior has been arrested for some of the same crimes she was tasked with locking others up for — possession of heroin, along with a large amount of cash and guns.

Detective Natalie Williams, 34, came under investigation by internal affairs for totally separate allegations of “conduct unbecoming an officer.” Williams, a seven-year veteran of the St. Louis police, was suspended without pay when a raid last Tuesday on a home where she was staying turned up heroin, drug paraphernalia, a scale, handguns, and approximately $10,000 in cash.

Acknowledging the public’s distrust of police charging their own, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce said, “I hope that the public’s confidence in the system is increased by this because these types of charges.”

Joyce says the fact that Williams was even charged at all is evidence that the system is working as it should, although police do statistically face much more lenient sentences and lower conviction rates for crimes they commit.

Police Chief Sam Dotson echoed Joyce’s sentiments in an attempt to win over the public, and distance his department from the dope-dealing detective:

“Police officers are not above the law, and when they are involved in criminal activity, we will pursue them vigorously until justice is served. The actions of one should not tarnish the reputation of the 1,300 dedicated men and women who serve as police officers in the city of St. Louis.”

The Ethical Society of Police, an organization that purports to establish a connection with the St. Louis community, still lists Williams on its website as its Recording Secretary.

Williams faces two felony charges of unlawful use of a weapon, and one felony charge for drug manufacturing. Williams had her bond set at $30,000.

ST. LOUIS — A police officer is being sued in a federal civil rights suit filed Tuesday that alleges the officer handcuffed and forcefully dragged a blind woman and her assistance dog out of a St. Louis bar without just cause.

Marvelena Quesada, 40, filed a lawsuit that says she left a bar at closing time on October 28, 2013, and returned shortly after to help a friend pay her tab. William Clinton, an off-duty St. Louis police officer, was moonlighting as a security guard at the bar.

When Quesada went to pay the bill, Clinton ordered her to “get out and get out now,” without giving Quesada and opportunity to put her debit card back in her purse. When she did not respond quickly enough, Clinton shouted “You’re going to jail!” pulled the blind woman from her hair, causing her head to hit the floor, then put her in handcuffs. The suit then alleges Clinton dragged Quesada down the sidewalk on her back, while her guide dog, Dani, was leashed to her arm, dragging the animal forcefully through tables and chairs.

Quesada says she was injured by her rough treatment and confined to bed for weeks after suffering a back injury, as well as cuts and bruises. Quesada also says she has since suffered from depression and a loss of sleep due to nightmares caused from the stress of her encounter. The amount of damages sought in Quesada’s lawsuit has not been specified.

Officer Clinton was named Officer of the Year in 2012 by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, according to their website. TruthVoice tried to contact the SLMPD with questions regarding criminal complaints against Officer Clinton and the status of his employment, but could not reach anyone willing to comment.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s office will not file charges against the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officer involved in the shooting death of VonDerrit Myers, Jr., on October 8, 2014, in the Shaw neighborhood.

Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce released her findings Monday after an independent investigation by prosecutors in her office along with an Assistant U.S. Attorney. The shooting death of Myers, who is black, by the officer, who is white, led to angry protests. The incident occurred just two months after the killing of Michael Brown by a white police officer  in Ferguson.

The report says it “does not dispute” that the unnamed police officer shot  Myers and Myers died as a result of those injuries. But it says in conclusion, “Given all the available facts, witness statements, physical and forensic evidence, and for the reasons outlined in the discussion above, prosecutors have determined a criminal violation could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, charges will not be filed in this case.”

Read the full report on the shooting death of VonDerrit Myers, Jr.

In a news release, the Circuit’s Attorney’s office says its investigation concluded that Myers did have a gun on the night of his death. It also says that multiple witnesses confirmed there was gunfire from both directions and from two different guns at the scene. Ballistics evidence confirms that two different guns were fired. And no witness claims to have seen the officer alter evidence in any way. It also says that there are witnesses that describe how Myers illegally came into possession of the Smith and Wesson firearm used that night.

St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson released the following statement, in which he identifies the officer involved as Jason Flanery.

Today, the Circuit Attorney’s Office concluded its review of the officer-involved shooting of VonDerrit Myers. The Metropolitan Police Department, City of St. Louis, is confident the Circuit Attorney’s Office has conducted a comprehensive review of the incident and all of the facts and evidence presented to them.

On October 8, 2014, VonDerrit Myers was shot and fatally wounded by a St. Louis police officer in the 4100 block of Shaw. On December 5, the department’s Force Investigative Unit concluded its investigation into the incident and referred its findings to the Circuit Attorney’s Office. The Circuit Attorney’s Office then conducted an independent investigation and has determined the officer involved in the incident, Police Officer Jason Flanery, will not face charges. Officer Flanery has over six years of service with the department and was working department-approved secondary at the time of the incident.

We appreciate the community’s patience as this investigation was conducted and commend the dedicated and thorough work of both the Circuit Attorney’s Office and the Force Investigative Unit. I have pledged transparency to the citizens of St. Louis and am committed to upholding this promise.

Jerryl Christmas, the attorney for the Myers family, told FOX 2 “I’m not shocked. I never thought they would have the courage to bring charges.” He compared the situation to the recent officer involved shooting in South Carolina, only this one was not caught on video. He says the family still does not believe Myers ever had a weapon, and that the one found at the scene was planted by the officer. They plan to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Seven St. Louis corrections officers were fired following a more than year-long investigation probing their beating of a former inmate.

According to KMOV, the alleged attack took place at the medium security City Workhouse facility back in November 2013.

The officers involved claimed the unruly inmate initiated the episode by attacking another officer, who had to be taken to a hospital for injuries deemed not serious. Investigators hinted the seven fired officers later beat the man in retaliation.

“This group ended up using excessive force and we just don’t tolerate that,” St. Louis Director of Public Safety Richard Gray said.

The incident only came to light after the city began investigating the circumstances allowing for the assault on the officer. During the probe, another officer revealed details of the attack, eventually leading to all seven involved officers relieved of their duty.

“We had enough information to cause us to believe that those individuals had violated the code of ethics,” Commissioner Dale Glass told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

None of the officers involved will be criminally charged investigators said, partly because the attacked inmate refused to further cooperate with authorities.

Gray said there were no nearby cameras that captured any of the drama, adding he didn’t think they would have prevented the incident from happening.

“You always have the opportunity to pull off to the side and hide and do things,” he said. “So cameras are good, but they’re not going to always prevent things from happening.”

Law enforcement officials in St. Louis and nearby Ferguson have come under heavy criticism and scrutiny in recent months following the shooting death of unarmed teen Michael Brown at the hands of then Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.

Brown’s slaying prompted protest and unrest across the city before and after it was announced Wilson would not be indicted in the killing.

KMOV.com

St. Louis County police released body camera video after officers shot and killed a 23-year-old man who authorities say charged toward officers holding a knife and a bible.

Thaddeus McCarroll was shot multiple times late Friday night by two officers in Jennings, Mo., according to police. Several officers from the department’s Tactical Operations Unit were wearing body cameras during the incident. Police uploaded footage from one of the officers’ cameras to YouTube Saturday morning.

Since Michael Brown, 18, was shot and killed by an officer in Ferguson, Mo. last summer, the nation has focused on the use of body cameras by police. Protesters across the country have pointed to other officer-involved shootings while demanding that departments equip each officer with a body camera.

Meanwhile, police say officers responded to the home at 9:21 p.m. and spoke with McCarroll’s mother who said she wanted her son removed from her home because his behavior was “not normal.” She told police McCarroll was talking about going on a “journey” and a “mission” and mentioned a “black revolution,” according to authorities. Through the front window of the home, police watched McCarroll walking around the house with several knives and a Samurai sword.

St. Louis County police’s Tactical Operations Unit responded to the scene around 10:30 p.m. After the unit negotiated with McCarroll for an hour, he came out of the house holding a knife in one hand and a bible in the other.

On the video, an officer can be heard questioning McCarroll on a loudspeaker outside. “We will walk away from your house but first I want to know why you’re angry tonight,” the officer says. “Just because we won’t leave is not the reason why you’re angry. I need to know why you’re angry. Is it your mom? Is it you?”

Shortly after gunshots are heard. McCarroll died at the scene.

St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar in a statement released Saturday said officers had no other option than to use deadly force.

“My officers took every precaution to safely resolve this situation, starting with over an hour-long attempt at negotiations with the subject,” Belmar said. “The officers resorted to less lethal force to try and bring the incident to a safe conclusion with no loss of life, but this individual made the decision to refuse these attempts, and charge at officers with a deadly weapon.”

The St. Louis County Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons Unit is investigating the shooting.