Investigation Launched into St. Louis Police Officer’s Viral Incident
A St. Louis police officer is under investigation after a video of him lighting a cigar while straddling a suspect on the ground went viral. The incident occurred outside Marquee Restaurant & Lounge in St. Louis last weekend, as captured in footage posted online.
In the video, the officer, who remains unidentified, can be seen with his right arm pressed against the suspect’s chest as he uses his free hand to light the cigar borrowed from another officer. Bystanders and the suspect themselves joked about having lighters to offer, with one witness playfully cautioning the suspect not to pull out his lighter, as it may be mistaken for a weapon.
At one point, the suspect attempted to free his hands while lying on his back, but the officer swiftly grabbed his arms and restricted his movement. A witness pleaded with the officer to at least put a hat on the suspect.
The video, initially uploaded to Instagram by votp_news, has garnered over 262,000 views. The incident took place outside a popular nightclub where the officer was working his second job, located near the historic Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis. Lounge employees had requested the officer to remove the suspect from the venue prior to the video being recorded.
According to reports, the suspect was taken into custody for trespassing on private property and resisting arrest. Although some responding officers were wearing body cameras, the footage has not been released publicly.
After the video gained widespread attention, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) initiated an internal investigation to gain a better understanding of the circumstances leading up to the incident and what transpired afterwards. The department aims to determine whether any misconduct occurred during the detainment.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in relation to this incident. However, it is crucial for law enforcement agencies to conduct thorough investigations into such incidents to maintain public trust and ensure officers adhere to proper protocols. Transparency and accountability are essential in addressing concerns regarding the conduct of police officers.
