The City of St. Louis has threatened to condemn the building St. Louis Police crashed into back in December. According to the owners of the building, Kevin Benear and John Claus, they received a letter from the Public Safety department telling them they have until mid February to make the repairs themselves.
"Basically saying we had 60 days to have the repairs completed. Benear said, "if the repairs weren't done when the inspector came by, we could be faced with a fine or potentially condemnation of the building."
When they contacted the City Attorney's office they were told to provide the city with materials Benear believes they should already have.
"I contacted the City [Counselor], filed a claim for the damage. The City [Counselor] wanted me to send the pics, the videos, the letter when they have the information from the city already."
Benear says at this point he has not sent the city anything. John Claus adds they shouldn't be receiving this letter in the first place since the police were the ones who crashed into the building.
"If the police were responsible for the damage, then why should we be getting these letters to get it fixed?" Claus said, adding: "it shouldn't come out of our own pocket."
On December 18th, police crashed into the front of the building. Chief of Police Robert Tracy has since said the officers behind the wheel were distracted.
Benear estimates the repairs could cost them between $25,000-30,000.
KMOX asked for a comment from the City. The Public Safety Department sent a statement from Building Commissioner Frank Oswald that says:
"The owners of BAR: PM received our very general letter with the broken window and shifted wall violations and both were cited. In the letter it explains the citizens right to appeal etc. The letter also states if it is a required occupancy violation the City COULD condemn the property. No one threatened them and we have no reason to condemn this property."
You can see the letter sent to Benear and Claus below.
In other news regarding Bar:PM, an attorney for bar owner Chad Morris filed a motion to compel in court Friday, seeking the body camera footage from the crash and the arrest of Morris. The next court hearing has been delayed to February 2nd.