Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Police Conduct topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Richmond Heights police conduct criticized at public forum; speaker says he is pursuing legal action
Summary
A speaker at the St. Louis County Council public forum accused the Richmond Heights Police Department of civil-rights violations, said he is drafting a lawsuit and urged media attention; he described frustration with municipal courts and possible career impacts from a traffic charge.
During the public forum, Garrett Meece addressed the council about an incident involving the Richmond Heights Police Department and security staff at a shopping center.
Meece said he believed he had been unlawfully detained and that police and security failed to protect him. He described consulting attorneys who told him he "for certain, have a case against the Richmond Heights Police Department and possibly even the Galleria Mall," and said he is drafting a lawsuit himself. "I am drafting a lawsuit myself and reaching out to the media to bring light to the flagrant violations of civil rights by the Richmond Heights police department," Meece said.
He said the situation has had potential consequences for his driving license and livelihood, describing advice from an attorney that he might have to plead guilty in municipal court to avoid losing his license. Meece told the council he has served on a school board since 2010 and on the SSD governing council since 2011, and said the dispute could harm his employment and reputation.
Meece framed his remarks in moral terms: "When money speaks, truth falls silent," he said, and added that he would not remain silent about the alleged rights violations. The council did not respond with action during the meeting; the comments were recorded as public forum testimony.
