PINE LAWN, Mo. – “I’m an alderperson in Pine Lawn.” Those words from Alderman Gerald Metts were recorded on June 30 via a police bodycam.
Alderman Metts had just plowed into a crime scene, in which the North County Police Cooperative was investigating a shooting on Kienlen Avenue in Wellston.
Police photos show how the alderman’s vehicle crashed through a guardrail on a dead-end street. His car ended up dangling from a 10-foot wall overlooking Kienlen.
NCPC Major Ron Martin said an alderman’s job title does not affect how officers react.
“It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re at; we’re going to treat everybody the same,” he said.
A probable cause statement says Metts blew a .154 BAC – almost twice the legal limit. The alderman was charged with DWI on September 5. Four days later, Metts asked the board to get rid of the North County Police Cooperative.
A FOX 2 news crew caught up with Alderman Metts, asking, “Should you be a part of any political action against a police department at this point?”
“I believe so, because it’s been my thing that I don’t like them,” Metts said. “Not, don’t like them; I just don’t like they – I think they a good police department. They just gotta step up more. I’m for the voice of the people.”
Meanwhile, Metts’ efforts went nowhere because Pine Lawn’s current contract with the NCPC runs for three years, and they’re only in year one of that contract.
“I think they’re doing a great job.” Pine Lawn Mayor Terry Epps said. “I’ll tell anyone—hands down—they are the best police department in doing community service and community policing.”
Alderman Metts said he preferred when Pine Lawn did its own policing.
“When we had our own, we never had all the stuff that we got going on,” he said.
That brings us to another portion of the prosecutor’s charging document, which alleges Metts visited the police department 11 days after his arrest and “…requested his driver’s license and asked command staff, ‘Is there something that could be done?’”
Metts denied he was asking the command staff to erase his DWI. He said he wanted an update from police.
“What was going on with it, because I never seen the case,” he said.
Metts said he’s seen the case now. He’s scheduled to appear in court next month.
