3 juveniles arrested downtown; SLMPD officer injured, guns seized

ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis police officer is recovering after suffering a broken hand during an arrest Sunday night in downtown.

During a Monday afternoon news briefing, Mitch McCoy, a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department spokesman, said three armed juveniles were taken into custody Sunday night in downtown as part of a new directed patrol strategy.

Just before 8 p.m., officers spotted the juveniles loitering outside several closed businesses near the intersection of North 7th and Olive streets. The juveniles were smoking marijuana, prompting officers to stop and exit their vehicles.

As officers approached, one of the juveniles took off running. The foot pursuit did not last long, as an officer caught up and attempted to restrain the juvenile. McCoy said the juvenile fought back and the two got into a struggle. Both the officer and juvenile fell back and the officer broke his hand. The juvenile was eventually detained.

Additional officers arrived a short time and helped take the other juveniles into custody. McCoy said three guns were confiscated, one of which had been reported stolen in Hazelwood. The juvenile who resisted the police officer was armed with a pistol with an extended magazine, McCoy said.

The juvenile who resisted was placed in juvenile detention, McCoy said, while the other two were turned over to their legal guardians.