Clayton PD Solves 'Cheesy Bandit' Case

From the City of Clayton:

January 4, 2021

For the reporting period of Monday, December 28th – Sunday, January 3rd, CPD officers responded to 415 calls for service, including 8 automobile accidents & 31 calls to assist the CFD. Among those calls were the following incidents:

Officers responded to the 6400 block of Clayton Rd. Monday morning after a resident reported her vehicle's catalytic converter had been stolen. She stated she parked the vehicle in her detached garage & believed the theft occurred sometime overnight on December 22nd.

While investigating a peace disturbance in the central business district early Tuesday morning, officers encountered 2 intoxicated subjects. Both subjects were underage & admitted to consuming alcohol. They were each issued a summons for Minors in Possession of Alcohol (MIP) & were released to sober drivers.

A short time later, a CPD officer observed a vehicle stalled in the intersection at S. Brentwood Blvd. & Carondelet Ave. As a result of the on-scene investigation, the driver was arrested for DWI. Officers later determined the vehicle's transmission was damaged when the driver struck a concrete median in the area of S. Brentwood Blvd. & Francis Pl.

A resident of the 6300 block of Alamo reported seeing 3 subjects checking vehicle doors at approximately 2:30 am Tuesday. While searching the area, officers located a vehicle in the alleyway north of Southwood with a door ajar. The owner was contacted & stated nothing was missing.

Just after 3 am, officers located 3 vehicles parked on Arundel with the dome lights illuminated. Each of the vehicles appeared to have been rummaged through. A review of surveillance cameras showed 3 male subjects checking the door handles of multiple vehicles. They appeared to have entered the area on foot & were not accompanied by a vehicle.

Both Richmond Heights PD & SLMPD reported similar activity at the Cheshire & in the surrounding neighborhoods within the past week. Please help us eliminate these incidents by using your #9pmRoutine. Remove anything of value from your vehicles & lock the doors even when you park in your driveway or garage.

CPD officers solved the case of the "Cheesy Bandit" Wednesday evening when they identified the driver of a red Honda Pilot causing drive-by dairy disasters. The driver reportedly drove recklessly through the Concordia Seminary property, flinging sliced cheese at pedestrians & vehicles. At Seminary officials' request, he has been banned from the property & will be charged with trespassing if he returns.

A man was arrested for Property Damage 1st degree Friday morning after a Sherwin Williams employee witnessed him throw a large rock through the front store window. The case will be forwarded to the St. Louis County Prosecutor's Office for consideration.

Late Friday night, a CPD officer was conducting a business check at Walgreens when employees notified him they suspected a man was attempting to shoplift. The suspect was detained & a search of his person & property revealed he possessed drug paraphernalia & had concealed 5 bags of laundry detergent in his backpack. He was arrested for stealing 4th offense, a felony, & possession of drug paraphernalia. At the time of his arrest, he also had an active warrant through St. Louis County PD for stealing 4th offense. Warrants will be applied for.

As officers monitored the central business district Saturday night, a man began urinating on a building, directly in front of a fully marked Clayton Police Patrol Vehicle. The man was contacted & issued a summons for urinating in public.

Finally, a woman left her purse on her secured vehicle's back seat while she was at Shaw Park Sunday afternoon. She returned a short time later & discovered her rear driver's side window was shattered & her purse & its contents had been stolen. Her bank notified her an unknown subject had attempted to make several charges on her bank cards at the Maplewood Walmart. An investigation is ongoing.

Until next week, stay safe!

This press release was produced by the City of Clayton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.