A Missouri gay bar owner is facing charges after a police cruiser crashed into his LGBTQ+ establishment, Bar: PM, in the Carondelet neighborhood late Sunday night. The crash involved a St. Louis City police SUV, leading to investigations. The officers onboard reportedly did not sustain injuries. Co-owner James Pence, living above the bar, was handcuffed but not arrested after refusing to provide identification. Co-owner Chad Morris, also known as Chad Wick, faces felony assault on an officer and misdemeanor resisting arrest charges. Videos of the incident contradict police claims, and Morris's attorney seeks dismissal based on evidence.
The police officer, a 32-year-old probationary officer, reportedly lost control while responding to a call, swerving to avoid a parked car and crashing into Bar: PM. Morris is charged with third-degree assault and resisting arrest, as per a police statement. The altercation allegedly involved Morris shouting obscenities, shoving an officer, and engaging in a physical struggle before being subdued and hospitalized for a pre-existing condition.
