From Monday, May 25th to Sunday, May 31st, your CPD Officers responded to 468 calls for service, including 13 vehicle crashes and 40 requests for Officers to assist other agencies. As a reminder, not all calls for service result in a report or require further investigation. The Weekly Police Incident Report highlights a selection of the calls that occurred throughout the week and is not intended to be a summary of all 468 calls for service. Continue reading to learn more about what happened last week:
A man contacted the CPD on Monday afternoon to request assistance with disposing of a firearm. He explained he was helping to clear out the home of a deceased family member when the handgun was discovered. He stated the family did not wish to keep the gun, and he turned it over to our Officers. The firearm was seized and placed into evidence pending proper disposal. For more information on surrendering unwanted firearms or ammunition, please visit: Firearm Safety and Disposal Information | News | City of Clayton, MO
Tuesday afternoon, a passerby found a cellphone abandoned in a parking lot in the central business district. They responded to the CPD and turned the phone in to the front desk. Officers located information about the phone's owner and attempted to reach them by email. As of the time of this report, they have not responded to retrieve their phone. It has been placed into evidence for safekeeping. If you believe the phone belongs to you, please contact the CPD.
Later that afternoon, Officers were alerted to a suspected grease spill causing a traffic hazard in an alleyway in the 200 block of S. Brentwood Blvd. Responding Officers blocked the alley and a portion of Shaw Park Dr. and S. Brentwood to through traffic. Officers later learned that a truck had been delivering a dumpster to the alley, and the dumpster had struck the commercial grease dumpster behind a local restaurant. The collision forced the grease dumpster into a nearby retaining wall, damaging both the dumpster and the wall. The Clayton Fire and Public Works Departments responded to assist.
The Director of Finance for a local business contacted the CPD on Wednesday morning to report that someone had altered and cashed a company check. She explained that she had mailed the original check by using a nearby USPS dropbox on May 15th. As she reviewed the company’s accounts on the 22nd, she discovered the check had been altered to be made payable to someone she did not know. She stated she contacted the individual the check had been intended for and confirmed that they had not received the payment. She then contacted the bank and the United States Postal Inspection Service and reported the fraud. As of the time of this report, it is unknown when or where the check was compromised. The investigation continues.
That afternoon, Officers responded to Walgreens for a delayed report of a theft. The Asset Protection Manager explained that while investigating a theft from a St. Peters store, three women were identified as having stolen merchandise from other Walgreens locations, including the Clayton store. The theft in Clayton occurred on May 14th and had not been previously discovered. A review of surveillance footage revealed that the women had stolen cosmetics valued at approximately $ 1,280 from the Clayton store. They were last seen entering a red Nissan Rogue with Texas license plates. Further investigation revealed that the women had embarked on a multi-day, multi-state spree that began in Texas, traveled through Arkansas and into Missouri, and back. The investigation continues.
As our Officer was leaving Walgreens, he observed a gray Jeep Compass parked in the lot and obstructing the right-of-way. The Officer made contact with the passenger and learned she was also wanted by the St. Louis County Police Department for Property Damage and Property Damage related to a Traffic Offense. The warrants were confirmed, and the woman was arrested.
Officers responded to the intersection of S. Hanley and Clayton Rd. for a vehicle crash with injuries on Wednesday evening. One of the drivers explained she had been making a left turn onto S. Hanley Rd. from the eastbound Clayton lanes when a second vehicle entered the intersection traveling westbound. She explained she had not been able to stop and struck the front end of the other vehicle. The impact caused her airbags to deploy, resulting in minor facial abrasions. She was treated on the scene by Clayton EMS personnel but refused further medical attention.
The other driver confirmed he had been traveling westbound on Clayton Rd. with a green signal. He stated he had been in the intersection when his vehicle was struck. His vehicle sustained damage to the front driver’s side, front wheel, and wheel well. He stated he had not been injured in the crash and declined medical attention. Both vehicles were later towed from the scene.
CVS Employees contacted the CPD early on Thursday morning to report that three men had stolen merchandise from the store. The manager explained the men had caught his attention when he observed what appeared to be a can of bug spray sticking out of one of their pockets. He stated he suspected the men were attempting to conceal merchandise, and he had contacted the CPD for assistance. While he was on the phone, the men quickly grabbed merchandise valued at approximately $80 and exited the store without paying. They were last seen leaving the area in a black Kia Sportage. While on his way to the store, a CPD Officer observed the Kia Sportage near the intersection of Hanley Rd. and Clayton Rd. When he attempted to stop the car, the driver continued northbound on Hanley Rd. The car was later entered as wanted in connection with our investigation.
Later that morning, a resident reported she had lost her handgun. She explained she had last seen the firearm at the beginning of May when she placed it inside her vehicle. She stated she was unable to locate the gun and believes someone took it from her vehicle. The investigation is ongoing.
On Thursday afternoon, a resident reported someone had stolen items from the storage locker of her apartment building. She explained that the building has been uninhabitable since last year’s tornado and that renovations are underway. She stated that property management had contacted her in mid-May to inform her that her storage locker had been tampered with. When she responded, she discovered that her electric bicycle, two microwaves, and three suitcases were missing. No suspects or witnesses have been identified. The investigation continues.
The property manager at a local bank contacted the CPD on Friday morning to report someone had damaged the mechanical gate arm at the entrance to their parking garage. Surveillance footage showed a man exiting his vehicle and manually lifting the gate when it failed to open for him on Thursday morning. By forcing the arm, he damaged the mechanism, leaving it in the open position. The investigation is ongoing.
Friday afternoon, Officers were called to a local hotel to assist with a man who was trespassing. The General Manager explained that staff had first encountered the man on Thursday evening and had repeatedly asked him to leave. They explained that the man would comply but would return a short time later, and staff would find him in a different area of the hotel. Officers found the man near the hotel pool and immediately recognized him as an individual who had been trespassed from several Clayton businesses. Given his persistent and extensive history of trespassing, he was arrested for Trespassing 1st degree. The case will be forwarded to the St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office for consideration.
Later that afternoon, Officers responded to the exit ramp from I-170 to S. Brentwood Blvd. for a crash involving a cyclist. The bicyclist explained that a pickup truck had been stopped at the stop sign as he entered the crosswalk, heading northbound. However, as he continued through the crosswalk, he was struck by the truck. The force of the collision threw him from his bicycle and resulted in multiple cuts and abrasions on his arms and legs. He was transported to a local hospital for further treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the pickup truck explained that he had been stopped at the stop sign, looking northbound, waiting to merge onto southbound S. Brentwood Blvd. As he looked northbound, he began to pull forward and struck the bicycle with his vehicle’s front bumper. A witness confirmed their accounts of the crash.
In April, we reported that a pickup truck had left the scene of a crash in the 8000 block of Maryland Ave. The striking vehicle was identified and entered as wanted in connection with our investigation. On Friday night, Maryland Heights Police stopped the vehicle in their jurisdiction and arrested the driver for Driving While Suspended. Our investigation continues.
Finally, Officers returned to CVS on Sunday morning to investigate a theft that had just occurred. Staff reported that a man had concealed items valued at approximately $88 in his wheelchair before exiting the store. Officers found the man nearby and recovered the stolen merchandise. He admitted to the theft, and the stolen items were recovered. He was arrested for Shoplifting and has an upcoming court date through the Clayton Municipal Court. Additionally, he was warned he would be charged with trespassing if he returned to the store.
Anyone with information about these or other investigations is asked to contact the CPD at (314)645-3000. Until next week, stay safe!
