For the reporting period of Monday, March 2nd – Sunday, March 8th, your CPD officers responded to 382 calls for service. Those calls included 18 vehicle crashes and 51 requests to assist other agencies. Among those calls were the following incidents:

Centene Security contacted the CPD early Monday morning after a woman refused to leave the property. Officers escorted her off the premises and issued her a trespass warning, resolving the situation without further incident.

A CPD Officer was on patrol Monday afternoon and observed a sedan with an expired license plate. A computer inquiry confirmed that the registration had expired in June of 2024. When the Officer conducted a traffic stop in the central business district, the driver stated he did not have his driver’s license. Further investigation revealed he had several active warrants, including one from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for Domestic Assault. The warrants were confirmed, and the man was arrested. He received summonses for his traffic violations and has an upcoming court date through the Clayton Municipal Court. He was transported to the St. Louis County Justice Center to await further action by the SLMPD and other agencies.

Officers responded to the interstate on Tuesday morning for a crash involving three vehicles. A man explained he had been in the southbound lanes near Brentwood Blvd. when traffic ahead of him came to a stop. He attempted to stop but was unable to avoid colliding with the vehicle directly ahead of him, setting off a chain reaction. Two of the passengers complained of back pain and were transported by Clayton EMS to a local hospital for further evaluation. Additionally, one of the drivers complained of pain in both of their legs. However, he refused medical attention while on the scene.

As Officers investigated the vehicle crash, one of the drivers provided them with an expired Missouri driver's license. A computer inquiry revealed the man’s license was suspended, and he was wanted by the Rock Hill Police Department for Driving While Suspended. Additionally, the license plate displayed on his vehicle was registered to a different vehicle. The man was subsequently arrested and issued summonses for his traffic violations. He has an upcoming court date through the Clayton Municipal Court. He was later transported to the St. Louis County Justice Center to await further action by the Rock Hill PD.

Officers were called to the Hillcrest neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon to meet with an AT&T employee regarding a theft. He explained that a customer had reported their phone service was disconnected, and he had responded to investigate. He discovered approximately eleven feet of cable had been cut and removed from two utility poles. AT&T asset protection estimated the stolen cable was valued at approximately $2,000. No suspects or witnesses have been identified, and the investigation is ongoing.

A short time later, a man contacted the CPD to report that his identity had been stolen. He explained he had received an email from TransUnion alerting him that a new line of credit had been established in his name through the St. Louis County Credit Union. He stated he contacted the credit union and spoke with an employee, who confirmed he had an account. They showed him a photocopy of the driver’s license that had been emailed to the credit union when the account was opened. The photocopy contained his correct personal identification information. However, the photo was of an unknown individual, and the signature did not match his. The branch manager explained that the account was opened online. Someone received a $14,000 loan and deposited it in an unknown bank account at another financial institution. The investigation is ongoing.

Later that afternoon, a man was driving northbound on I-170 when he drove through standing water and lost control of his vehicle. He explained that his vehicle hit the concrete median, a guardrail, and a highway sign before coming to a stop. Thankfully, he was not injured in the ordeal. His vehicle didn’t fare as well, sustaining significant damage, and was towed from the scene. MoDOT later responded to the scene to clear the roadway of water.

A woman reported that she had been traveling westbound on Forest Park Parkway toward I-170 late on Thursday night when she took the turn too quickly and lost control of her vehicle. She explained that she had veered to the left and crossed into the oncoming traffic lane, damaging her front driver's-side wheel and quarter panel. She was not injured, but her vehicle had to be towed from the scene.

Friday afternoon, Officers were called to the 100 block of S. Bemiston for a report of someone stealing a check from an office suite. The reporting party explained that an endorsed check had been placed in his partner’s office before they left work on Friday, February 27th. When they returned the following Monday, they discovered the check was missing, and they contacted their bank to stop payment. On Friday, March 6th, a bank manager contacted them to report that a woman was attempting to cash the check at their branch located in St. Louis City. The check appeared to be the original document and had not been altered in any way. They suspect the woman is employed by the cleaning company assigned to clean their office suite. The investigation continues.

Later that afternoon, Officers responded to the Moorlands neighborhood for a delayed report of a vehicle leaving the scene of an accident. The reporting party explained that he had parked his vehicle on the street in the 7400 block of Oxford on Wednesday afternoon before leaving town. When he returned Friday afternoon, he discovered fresh damage to his vehicle’s passenger-side doors. No suspects or witnesses have been identified. The investigation is ongoing.

A short time later, the CPD Business Officer was on patrol in the central business district when he observed a man who he believed was wanted by our department loitering near the St. Louis County Justice Center. He approached the man and conducted a computer inquiry, which confirmed the man was wanted for Trespassing, Resisting Arrest, and Failure to Comply. He was arrested without incident and issued a new court date through the Clayton Municipal Court.

One of our Officers found himself fulfilling the “Performs other duties as assigned” portion of our job description’s essential duties and responsibilities when he responded to a call for water on the roadway on Saturday morning. He responded to Forest Park Parkway and found roughly a foot of water covering the road. Thankfully, he was prepared with his safety vest and a pair of muck boots! The St. Louis County Highway Department responded and cleared the road of debris, allowing the water to drain. Our Officer recovered quickly by attending our Coffee With a Cop event at Café Manhattan, where he warmed up with fresh coffee and donuts. We’d like to thank the café for hosting us and everyone who came out to enjoy a sweet treat and conversation!

A CPD Officer was on patrol in the east end of town later Saturday morning when he witnessed a vehicle strike the pedestrian push-button signal pole located at the intersection of DeMun and Clayton Rd. The vehicle continued driving westbound on Clayton Rd., and the Officer initiated a traffic stop. The driver explained that he had heard a loud noise but had been distracted and hadn’t realized he had struck anything. The incident was documented, and the St. Louis County lighting division was notified of the damage.

Officers were called to the intersection of S. Hanley and Wydown for a vehicle crash blocking the roadway on Saturday evening. A woman explained she had been stopped at the light when her vehicle was suddenly struck from behind. Both vehicles sustained serious damage and were later towed from the scene. Thankfully, neither driver was injured in the collision.

As Officers investigated the crash, they observed signs that the driver of the striking vehicle was under the influence of marijuana and alcohol. Following a roadside investigation, they arrested the man for Driving While Suspended, Driving While Intoxicated, Violation of Financial Responsibility, and Failure to Register his vehicle. Test results revealed he had been driving with a BAC that registered well over the legal limit. He has an upcoming court date through the Clayton Municipal Court.

Officers returned to the area of Forest Park Parkway and the interstate for a report of a single-vehicle crash early on Sunday morning. The driver explained he had been driving westbound on the ramp from the parkway to enter onto southbound I-170 when a second vehicle cut him off. He claimed he swerved to avoid a collision and drove off the roadway into the embankment before returning to the roadway, where he found himself facing the wrong way in the southbound lanes. The incident damaged his vehicle’s front axle and left it inoperable. While on the scene, Officers observed no signs of another vehicle being involved.

Finally, residents of the 6300 block of Southwood contacted the CPD on Sunday afternoon after discovering several locks on the storage units in their shared basement had been damaged. Officers noted that several of the locks appeared to have been cut, consistent with the use of a bolt cutter. Several residents reported someone had rummaged through the contents of their storage units, but nothing had been stolen. No suspects or witnesses have been identified.

As a reminder, we recently shared several safety tips for residents living in apartments or condominium buildings. You can find that information here: Safety Tips for Apartment and Condominium Living | News | City of Clayton, MO

Anyone with information about these or other investigations is asked to contact the CPD at (314) 645-3000. Until next week, stay safe!