Police Shy Away From Public Hearing on Galleria Arrests

Members of the St. Louis County Council's Health and Justice Committee invited St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar, Richmond Heights Police Chief Doug Schaeffler, and St. Louis County prosecutor Robert McCulloch, among others, to attend a public hearing to explain their treatment of protesters at the St. Louis Galleria in September. That invitation was declined. The Riverfront Times reports:

Herbert Bernsen, director of the county Justice Services Department, also didn't come, though he sent a letter defending workers at the jail where arrested protesters were processed and held overnight. The jail went into lockdown, which drew criticism from some people trying to get medicine to loved ones.

"I am extremely proud of my staff's performance that day, especially in light of the sensitive issues involved," Bernsen wrote.

Elected officials have called for an investigation into use of force by the police against protesters who they say were peaceful. Legal experts have also questioned a lockdown at the St. Louis County Justice Center the next day, which prevented those arrested from meeting with lawyers and family members. Read more from the Riverfront Times.

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