St. Louis News Blog

A strip joint, a late-night shooting, at least 30 shell casings recovered, three weapons five arrests, and one man hospitalized: Was Adam "Pacman" Jones in town Saturday this weekend?

Yes, the Belleville News-Democrat is reporting yet another shooting incident at a Brooklyn, Illinois strip club, this one at the Bottoms Up Nightclub.

The Bottoms Up is located at 307 Jefferson Avenue, next door to the Pink Slip, a club that had two separate shootings (details here and here) in August that left one woman dead and two men wounded.

Here's a map of the area:


Details on the latest dust-up last night after the jump, via the BND:

​Any good cop TV show has the same line. Just as the criminal is being placed in shackles, the police officer states: "You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, the state will provide you one."

Did you know, though, that that line isn't necessarily true? At least not in Missouri where the state's overburdened public defenders have adopted rules allowing them to deny counsel to two types of criminals:

1. Those who first hire a private attorney and then drop that initial lawyer for a public defender
2. Those accused of violating the terms of their probation.

But shouldn't public defenders be compelled to provide legal counsel to any and all accused criminals?

That's the question being weighed in Jefferson City as the Missouri Supreme Court yesterday heard arguments on both sides of the debate.

Here's an update to the wild story we reported yesterday involving the shooting, dog-biting and roughing up of a carload of teenagers early Wednesday morning.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorney has brought charges against two of the teens arrested after police stopped their fleeing stolen car with spike strips and then chased them down on foot when the suspects ran from the vehicle.

Demarko Marshalls

​Demarko Marshalls, 17, of the 1000 block of Hickory, is charged with unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest and second-degree tampering with a motor vehicle. He is being held on a $20,000 bond.

Police shot Marshalls in the leg, groin and foot when they say they observed a weapon on his person during a foot chase. A gun was found on the ground near where he fell after being shot. Marshalls was treated and released from the hospital.

Ricardo Fleming, 18, of the 700 block of Aubert, has been charged with first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest. 

It wasn't a good night for a group of teens out joyriding in a stolen car.

Police say they observed a vehicle near Enright and Grand around midnight today that had been reported stolen in a carjacking in St. Louis County.

The cops attempted to pull over the car, but the driver refused to stop. The fleeing vehicle made it all the way north of Fairgrounds Park (more than two miles away from where it was initially spotted) before police could stop the car using spike strips.
 

View Larger Map

After hitting the road blocks, the car's tires shredded and the vehicle caught fire. It came to rest against a light pole in the 3900 block of Lee Avenue. Police say that at least three -- possibly four -- suspects then fled the car.

The St. Louis County Police Department has joined the ranks of their comrades in blue in the city and created a crime-mapping database for use by the public.

​
The database (viewable at maps.stlouisco.com/police/index.html) features crime happenings for the past 90 days in municipalities patrolled by county police. (County suburbs such as Kirkwood, University City, Florissant etc. with their own police force do not report to the county and are absent from the crime map.)

St. Louis County police chief Timothy Fitch says the database was created in-house and at no additional expense to taxpayers. (Perhaps that's why the map is missing a toggle bar allowing you to move your vantage point around inside the map -- the main flaw I've found so far with the website.)

As for other imperfections to the site...

photo by Jennifer Silverberg

East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks

​East St. Louis mayor and liquor commissioner Alvin Parks may have finally had it with his city's nightclubs. After a bloody weekend that left four people injured or dead in two days at nightspots scattered across town, Parks says last call at the bars will be rolled back--at least for the time being-- from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Parks, who was at the scene of one of the murders--a fatal shooting at 3:14 a.m. at Club 2151-- when it occurred Saturday, told the Belleville News-Democrat that he was "very, very disappointed" after the latest round of violence attributed to East St. Louis' nightlife.

Earlier this year, Parks came under fire from metro east law enforcement officials and rival city leaders when the Illinois State Patrol revealed that fifteen homicides over the past five years had "came directly out of East St. Louis nightclubs." Many in the community urged the mayor then to tighten restrictions on liquor sales but he resisted, arguing that the clubs were not solely to blame for the violence and that the cash-starved city relied heavily on them for tax revenue.

The city's nightlife had been tranquil until the bloodshed began Friday morning at Club Etta.

Orlando Hadley

​St. Louis County prosecutors issued charges this week against Orlando A. Hadley, 40, accusing the Missouri man of six counts of "recklessly risk infection of another with HIV." 

topteedesigns.com

​The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department yesterday released findings from a satisfaction survey it conducted recently.

The poll of St. Louis residents found that three in four people were "satisfied" with the operation of the department and even more (86 percent) found police officers to be "pleasant and courteous."

The survey (viewable here) polled some 900 city residents. In general, residents of south St. Louis gave the cops higher marks than residents of north city.

For example, 80 percent of respondents in the Dutchtown, Holly Hills and Carondelet neighborhoods in south city felt satisfied with the overall competence of the department, compared to just 60 percent who felt that way in the north city neighborhoods of Baden, Walnut Park and Mark Twain.

The disparity was even more pronounced when residents were asked if they felt safe in their neighborhoods.

staging.ksdk.com

Tajuan Lampkin

​Tajuan Lampkin was sentenced to 28 years in prison yesterday for breaking into the home of 75-year-old woman in Belleville, stealing $20 and forcing her to trim her nails to get rid of evidence.

Lampkin, 22, is a serial marauder charged with forcing his way into the homes of at least four Belleville women in the past five years.

As the Belleville News-Democrat reports today, police accused Lampkin of breaking into a home in 2004, beating the female occupant with a cord and then raping her at knifepoint. A week later, Lampkin was charged with breaking into the home of another Belleville woman, tying her up and stealing a gun and credit cards.

The rape and assault charges from those incidents were later dropped when Lampkin pleaded guilty to the lesser crime of home invasion. He was sentenced in 2006 to six years in prison but in 2008 was out of jail and continuing his home invasions.

He went that way.

​This just in from the FBI...

Rembrandt's "The Good Samaritan"

​In the Bible, Jesus tells the parable of the "Good Samaritan", who on the road to Jericho nurtured and saved a man beaten and robbed by thieves.

The moral of the story: Even people considered to be the most sacrilegious and despicable within a society are capable of showing tremendous acts of charity and kindness.

In Jesus's time, those outcasts were the Samaritans. In modern days, you might equate them to the folks who who hang out at dingy, topless bars all day.

Today's Post-Dispatch bolsters this comparison in an article that begins: "Two women who were brought to St. Louis and forced into prostitution were rescued by a strip club customer, an FBI agent said Monday."

Wikimedia Commons

​For the second time this month, a man was shot at the Brooklyn strip club the Pink Slip, the Belleville News-Democrat reports. This time the shooting was not deadly. Details are scarce but here's the rub:

A St. Louis man was shot inside a nightclub early Sunday.

According to Illinois State Police, a man was shot during a verbal fight at about 3:27 a.m. Sunday inside the Pink Slip Nightclub. The victim was Amos Blanchard, 35, of St. Louis, and he was transported to an area hospital for treatment. 

His injuries are not considered life-threatening, according to police. A 22-year-old suspect is being questioned, they said.

flickr.com/photos/bkramme

The Poplar Street Bridge (foreground) as viewed looking toward East St. Louis.

​All westbound lanes of the Poplar Street Bridge were closed this morning at 7 a.m. for about 15 minutes as St. Louis police searched for evidence tied to a double-shooting.

The shooting happened around 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday at a night club in the Metro-East.

Authorities say that a 24-year-old woman was shot to death and a male victim was also shot and seriously wounded.

According to Illinois State Police, the victims were driving from a night club in Brooklyn, Ill. to the Poplar Street Bridge at the time of the shooting.

Not sure what evidence police expected to find on a busy freeway three hours after the crime took place (a ditched weapon perhaps?) but they felt it was important enough to wreak havoc on the morning commute.

And you thought that buzz on your alarm clock was a cruel way to start the day.

​Attention Evening Whirl, police in East St. Louis have this week's cover story for you.

It's the tale of the three adults in East Boogie who awoke Saturday to a gunman shooting them in their sleep.

The incident occurred early Saturday in a home in the 2700 block of St. Louis Avenue in East St. Louis. Police responded to a call of multiple shootings around 4 a.m. When they arrived, they found two men and a woman shot in their legs and arms.

The victims -- in stable condition at a local hospital -- told authorities they knew the gunman and woke up to the sound of him shooting them.

As of yesterday the suspect has not been apprehended.

Devante Thomas

​Sixteen-year-old Devante Thomas, accused last week of shooting a Berkeley police officer, is in custody following a five-day manhunt.

Thomas allegedly shot the cop Wednesday morning after the officer chased him into a north county cemetery. Thomas' mother had reported her son as "missing" the day prior to the shooting. 

The St. Louis County Police are holding a press conference at 4 p.m. to discuss details of the arrest as well as provide the status of the injured officer.

scrapetv.com

"Never start with the head, the victim gets all fuzzy."

You know, criminals in this town used to believe in things. Honor. Respect. Look at Granite City resident Thomas Byrd. What does he believe in?

Note: This story updated here.

Moments ago we followed a Post-Dispatch article that reported sixteen-year-old Devante Thomas, accused of shooting a Berkeley police officer last night, has been caught.

Apparently the P-D -- and we -- got that wrong.

This just in from the St. Louis County Police Department spokesman Rick Eckhard.

St. Louis police announced yesterday that they had dismantled of a massive drug-dealing ring in north St. Louis' Jeff Vander Lou neighborhood by arresting 15 gang members and seizing 19 firearms and $1.5 million in cash and valuables. The group is charged with conspiracy to distribute more than 5 kilos of cocaine and 50 grams of crack.

The U.S. Attorney's Office and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department today announced the indictment and arrest of 15 area people charged with operating a major cocaine operation in St. Louis.

The investigation focused on gang-related drug activity in the Jeff Vander Lou area (see map below) of north St. Louis.


View Jeff Vander Lou Neighborhood in a larger map
According to the U.S. Attorney, the plot encompassed distribution of more than five kilos of cocaine and 50 grams of crack cocaine. Included in the indictment is the Chicago drug source for the organization.

Authorities say the sweep led to another 25 people charged in federal and state court for participating in the conspiracy. A total of 19 firearms and more than $640,000 in cash was confiscated in the bust and some $1.5 million in currency, autos and jewelry is subject to forfeiture if the gang is convicted.

The names (and colorful pseudonyms) of some of those indicted include: 

www.tvproinc.com/hoodchronicles

Langford Cunningham interviews a woman with HIV in Hood Chronicles

A trailer to the documentary Hood Chronicles begins with these disturbing 2008 crime statistics for St. Louis: 4,345 assaults, 2,634 robberies and 167 homicides.

Not mentioned -- but implied -- throughout the rest of the clip is that an overwhelming amount of that violence plagued the city's African-American community. The goal of Hood Chronicles is to change that.

"We want to raise awareness on the streets of St. Louis and Illinois that there are alternatives," says Langford Cunningham, the host and voice of the documentary scheduled to be released next year. "We explore crime, STDs, single-parent families and other issues affecting the black community and look for people who can speak first-hand about their impact."

Along the way Cunningham, a middle-school teacher in the Lafayette School District and cousin of boxing promoter Kevin Cunningham, interviews prisoners, educators, gang-bangers, politicians, prostitutes, rappers -- and many more -- asking their opinions of how to improve the community.  

Those appearing in the film include hip-hop artist City Spud, Congressman Lacy Clay, East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks and many more.

Assisting Cunningham on the project is director Steven Todd and producer Ryan Gunn of the Soulard-based film company, TVPro. The group is applying for grants to cover some of the production costs and hope to finish filming by November.

For more information on Hood Chronicles check out its website or tune in this Sunday night at 10:30 p.m. to 100.3 "The Beat" where Cunningham will be discussing the film and its inspiration.

Continue on to see a short clip of the film.  

Here's an intriguing burglary from a couple nights ago. Why do YOU think this happened?

According to state agriculture authorities, a horse was found infected with a parasite on June 8 at an equine center in Raytown, Missouri (near Kansas City).

flickr.com/photos/librarianavengers

The parasite, piroplasmosis, is not endemic to North America, the USDA says. It's a blood-borne parasite transmitted by ticks. There's no cure for it. In acute cases, horses will suffer fever, a swollen abdomen, labored breathing, jaundice and anemia. Yeah. it's grim. 

The reporting of a piroplasmotic horse near Kansas City freaked out the Missouri Department of Agriculture, who ordered all the horses at the center under quarantine. Seven of them tested then positive for the parasite.

So yesterday, the owners of five infected horses agreed to let the state euthanize their animals.

However, the night before, somebody cut a few locks and stole a pair of the infected horses.

Why? 

Could it be the owners of the horses couldn't bear to put their ponies down like that?

What do YOU think? 

Update: Why, yes, he did. In fact, he got his undergraduate degree in journalism from Washington University where he attended from 1938 to 1943. While at the school von Brunn was president of the SAE fraternity and played on university's football team. Now here's the original speculation I published hours after the shootings...

Police and news organizations are still attempting to learn more about James Wenneker von Brunn, the 88-year-old gunman who shot and killed a guard today at the National Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C.

holywesternempire.org

Photo on Von Brunn's online bio.

Von Brunn was shot in the melee and is currently listed in serious condition. According to news reports, Von Brunn is a well-known white supremecist living in eastern Maryland and the author of an anti-semtic website Holy Western Empire.

His bio on that site states that he is now an artist and writer who penned a book titled, Kill the Best Gentiles. It also states that he has Midwest roots.

James W. von Brunn holds a BachSci Journalism degree from a mid-Western university where he was president of SAE and played varsity football.

During WWII he served as PT-Boat captain, Lt. USNR, receiving a Commendation and four battle stars. For twenty years he was an advertising executive and film-producer in New York City. He is a member of Mensa, the high-IQ society.

According to an art website, Von Brunn's family emigrated from Germany in the 1840s and settled in St. Louis.

In 1983 Von Brunn was convicted of a 1981 attempt to kidnap members of the Federal Reserve Board. He was apprehended running through the board's headquarters with a revolver, hunting knife and sawed-off shotgun. 

A 14-year-old boy is listed in critical condition today after being shot in an alleyway in the 4200 block of Shreve Avenue last night around 9:30 p.m.


View 14-Year-Old Shot In North City Alley in a larger map

A neighbor tells the Post-Dispatch that he saw a group of teenage boys playing in the alley with a sawed-off shotgun minutes before hearing a blast. The boys then fled, leaving the neighbor to wait with the victim -- first name, Andy -- while police and paramedics arrived. The boy was shot in his midsection.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.