Representatives from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department have release a timeline of what transpired in the incident last night that resulted in two fatalities at the hands of undercover officers.
According to the Department, the incident took place as follows:
Undercover officers saw a 2004 Dodge Ram pickup truck near the area of St. Louis Avenue and Clara. The truck had been reported stolen from St. Charles, Missouri on 11/15/09. The undercover officers followed the vehicle and eventually deployed spike strips in its path, causing two of the tires to deflate. The vehicle however, continued to flee from the officers. As the driver of the vehicle attempted to turn into an alley behind the 5600 block of Wabada, the vehicle lost control, struck a guidewire (for a telephone pole) and flipped on its driver’s side.
Several officers approached the vehicle and took suspect #2, the only female, into custody without any resistance. Suspect #1 and Suspect #3 resisted but officers used TASERS on the two suspects and their resistance ceased. Despite the officers commands for Suspect #4 and Suspect #5 to show their hands, Suspect #4 and Suspect #5 did not comply and instead retrieved weapons. Fearing for their safety, two officers fired several shots at Suspect #4 and Suspect #5 striking them both multiple times. Suspect #4 and Suspect #5 were both pronounced dead at the scene. Officers recovered 3 guns from the vehicle and drugs were found on Suspect #3. Suspect #3 was taken to the hospital for cuts and bruises and was treated and released. No officers were injured.
After presenting the case to the Circuit Attorney’s Office, warrants for 2nd Degree tampering were taken under advisement for Suspect #1, Suspect #2 and Suspect #3. Warrants for Felony Resisting arrest was also taken under advisement for Suspect #1 and Suspect #3. A warrant for Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance was issued for Suspect #3, Monttraill Claiborne. A judge set bond at $2500.
The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure in any officer-involved shooting. One officer is a 34 year old male and is a 10 year veteran of the department. The second officer is a 30 year old male and has been a department officer for 3 ½ years.
According to the police, all suspects involved are familiar to police and all have prior criminal convictions.