Residents Ask Richmond Heights Council To Drop Galleria Charges

RICHMOND HEIGHTS, MO — Some attendees of Monday's meeting of the Richmond Heights City Council demanded the city dismiss charges against protesters arrested at the St. Louis Galleria last year, the Post-Dispatch reports. More than two dozen people were arrested last September for rioting, trespassing and resisting arrest after prosecutors declined to charge former St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley for murder in the shooting death of Anthony Lamar Smith, a black motorist. Protests broke out across the city and county, including at the Galleria.

It's not clear why charges are just now being filed.

Protesters say they were peaceful and have accused police of using excessive force. Police say they ordered protesters to disperse, but protesters say they either couldn't hear that order or didn't have time to respond before police began indiscriminate arrests.

“I do not want my tax dollars spent to intimidate those who are attempting to exercise their freedom of speech,” said one Richmond Heights resident, Paul April.

Others promised economic retribution against the city if the charges aren't dropped.

“If you are going to put almost 30 people in court on absurd charges, your other businesses are going to hear from us,” said Susan Clark, a resident of Ladue.

Rev. Darryl Gray said he had previously met with city officials about the protests. But he too was among the individuals charged by the city.

Richmond Heights Mayor Jim Thompson said the speakers' concerns would be passed along to the prosecuting attorney.

Read more from the Post-Dispatch.

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.

Photo: Galleria protests from 2014, after a grand jury declined to indict Darren Wilson for murder in the shooting death of Michael Brown, a black teenager. (Joshua Lott/Getty Images)