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Resident alleges Richmond Heights police unlawfully detained him, plans lawsuit
Summary
At the May 20 St. Louis County Council meeting, Garrett Meece testified during public forum that Richmond Heights police and private security failed to protect him and that he plans to draft a lawsuit alleging civil-rights violations and retaliatory actions by police leadership.
Garrett Meece told the St. Louis County Council on May 20 that he believes Richmond Heights police and mall security violated his civil rights and that he is preparing a lawsuit. Meece said he had been unlawfully detained, that security and police failed to protect him from restraint by another person, and that police later "retaliated against me for challenging their violation of my rights" by citing him with reckless driving.
Meece said he received legal advice from multiple attorneys, including one he described as a former judge, and that because of pleading risks in municipal courts he felt he might be forced into a plea that would harm his livelihood. He told the council he has served as a school board member since 2010 and on the SSD governing council since 2011 and that the situation could jeopardize his driving license and employment.
Asked to stop after three minutes, Meece said he was drafting a lawsuit and reaching out to media to "bring light to the flagrant violations of civil rights by the Richmond Heights police department." His remarks were part of the public forum; council members did not record any formal response or action in the meeting transcript.
