7 charged with rioting after protest in St. Louis County

Nearly 200 people have been arrested in demonstrations since a judge acquitted former officer Jason Stockley of first-degree murder


Associated Press

ST. LOUIS — Protesters who were arrested at an unruly demonstration at a suburban St. Louis shopping mall were released from jail Sunday amid cheers from demonstrators.

An estimated 200 people gathered at the St. Louis County Justice Center Sunday afternoon, a day after 22 protesters were arrested at the St. Louis Galleria in Richmond Heights. Among those released Sunday was the Rev. Karla Frye. Protesters claim Frye was choked by police.

State Rep. Bruce Franks chants in front of the Buzz Westfall Justice Center as more than a hundred people wait for the release of almost two dozen people arrested earlier in the day at the Saint Louis Galleria mall, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Clayton, Mo.
State Rep. Bruce Franks chants in front of the Buzz Westfall Justice Center as more than a hundred people wait for the release of almost two dozen people arrested earlier in the day at the Saint Louis Galleria mall, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Clayton, Mo. (Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

Frye was charged with assault, rioting and two counts of resisting arrest. A court document accused her of jumping on the back of a police officer, injuring the officer.

Six other protesters were charged with rioting and resisting arrest. The 15 others will be referred to Richmond Heights Municipal Court for local charges.

The protest was one of several since mid-September, when a judge acquitted former police officer Jason Stockley of first-degree murder in the death of a black drug suspect. Nearly 200 people have been arrested in demonstrations since the ruling.

On Sunday, a much smaller group of protesters stood outside a hotel near Lambert Airport, where a conservative group was hosting a rally that included Steve Bannon, the former chief strategist to President Donald Trump.

The Galleria protest began peacefully before some protesters began overturning trash cans, leading to a confrontation between police and demonstrators. Officers cleared out the mall and began making arrests.

Stockley was found not guilty in the 2011 death of Anthony Lamar Smith. He testified he shot Smith in self-defense because Smith was reaching toward a gun in his car. Prosecutors accused Stockley of planting the gun.

Request product info from top Riot Gear companies

Thank You!

By submitting your information, you agree to be contacted by the selected vendor(s) and that the data you submit is exempt from Do Not Sell My Personal Information requests. View our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

SWAT news from P1 to your inbox

Thanks! You've been successfully signed up for the Police1 SWAT

Copyright © 2023 Police1. All rights reserved.