ST. LOUIS — A ºüÀêÊÓƵ judge expressed skepticism Thursday about a criminal case pending against the owner of a popular gay bar after police crashed into his building.
Judge David Roither asked prosecutor Rob Huq during a hearing whether he truly believed a ºüÀêÊÓƵ jury potentially full of property owners would convict Chad Morris, the owner of Bar:PM, of assault and resisting arrest after police crashed an SUV into his property in the middle of the night then demanded his identification and arrested him.
“How do you expect to explain that?†Roither said.
Huq said he believed the case was admissible and that they would move toward a jury trial.
Thursday’s exchange was the latest update in a legal controversy that began at around 12:30 a.m. Dec. 18, 2023, when a rookie officer slammed an SUV into Morris’ bar at 7109 South Broadway.
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Morris’ husband and business partner, James Pence, was in bed in an apartment above the bar. Pence walked downstairs to see what happened and was handcuffed by Officer Ramelle L. Wallace, who is facing multiple lawsuits complaining about beatings and abuse while on the job.
Morris then arrived and asked why his husband was handcuffed. Officers took Pence down the gangway next to the bar, and Morris followed. Morris’ lawyers said officers beat him. Charges, however, say Morris pushed one officer and then tried to run away.
Morris’ lawyer, Javad Khazaeli, has argued the charges should be dismissed and filed a lawsuit against Wallace and the city on behalf of Pence.
Last week, he also filed a motion asking Roither to dismiss the case or sanction prosecutors for not turning over or even seeking evidence about the disciplinary records of the officers involved.
Khazaeli also said Thursday it may be admissible for charges but could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
“This is a waste of resources,†he said in an interview.
Huq in court called the motion for dismissal “absurd†and said his office’s response, due Friday, would address all of the allegations about failures to turn over evidence.
Roither set another hearing next week to discuss the evidence motion and response from the Circuit Attorney’s Office.