By William C. Lhotka
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Copyright 2006 St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Inc.
March 24, 2006
Edmon Burns, whose beating and kicking by police after a chase in January drew national attention and an FBI civil rights investigation, is headed to prison in an unrelated case.
In an agreement Thursday in St. Louis County Circuit Court, Burns agreed not to fight a probation revocation that will send him back to prison for three years. He will remain free until formal sentencing April 13.
TV viewers the morning of Jan. 30 watched live video from news helicopters of Burns leading a vehicle chase from Maplewood into St. Louis, running from officers on foot and getting punched and kicked by three officers from Maplewood and one from St. Louis after he was taken to the ground.
Police have said the episode started with a complaint from a gas station about a suspicious person. A lawyer for Burns has said he fled because he was afraid of the police.
The FBI is investigating the officers’ conduct.
Burns, 33, of north St. Louis County, was charged with traffic violations, but county prosecutors said they will wait to decide on felony charges against him until after the federal investigation is done.
On July 2, 2004, Burns pleaded guilty before Judge John Ross to charges of escape from custody, misdemeanor stealing and criminal nonsupport. Ross placed him on five years of probation. In December, Burns was back in court as a probation violator and Ross continued his probation.
Burns appeared Thursday before Ross and acknowledged that he had violated conditions of his probation. Specifically, court documents indicated, Burns admitted to his probation officer on Jan. 20 that he had used marijuana between Dec. 31 and Jan. 13.
Several times during Thursday’s proceeding, Ross asked Burns if he understood that, “I intend to sentence you to three years in prison.” Twice, Burns conferred with defense lawyer Andrew Hale before admitting he violated probation, and responding affirmatively to Ross’ final question of whether the agreement was made “freely and voluntarily.”
Burns Chase caught live in January drew national attention