ST. LOUIS (KMOX) — Despite the installation of barricades, rowdiness reigned on Washington Avenue downtown again Friday night, and according to a witness, police did nothing to stop it.
The barricades were installed to curtail racing, cruising, and other mayhem that have become a problem on the popular downtown street. Last weekend, a 17-year old DeSoto girl, Siera Ward, was killed when a car racing down Washington at 10th Street slammed into the truck she was a passenger in. Four other people in the bed of that truck were ejected and were hospitalized.
Tom, a parking lot attendant, says Friday's mischief started early, at about 8 P.M.. That's when he first heard gunshots near the gas station on Tucker, a couple of blocks north of Washington. "And then probably about an hour later, heard gunshots for the second time. A series of probably eight to ten shots. Hopefully random." There are no reports of anyone being wounded.
Tom says at one point, a car did a few donuts at 14th and Washington and then sped off, running a red light. He says he noticed a police SUV stopped at a nearby traffic light. "Had to have witnessed the donuts and had to had witnessed the guy running the stop light and absolutely did nothing."
In fact, Tom says, he didn't notice much of a police presence until about 1 A.M.. Saturday.
Even the early closing time for bars didn't seem to matter. He says most of the patrons just went outside. "People were congregating outside the bars and restaurants, like at the patio area. There were quite a few people using the barricades as a lounge area as well."
Tom notes that all that happened on a Friday night. He says Saturday's are usually worse.