Missourinet

Your source for Missouri News and Sports

You are here: Home / Archives for Mark McCloskey

St. Louis couple charged with felonies for waving guns at protestors, state attorney general gets involved

By

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner’s Office has filed felony charges today against a couple who pointed guns at protesters walking by their Central West End mansion last month. Mark and Patricia McCloskey have each been charged with a felony count of unlawful use of a weapon — exhibiting.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner

“It is illegal to wave weapons in a threatening manner at those participating in nonviolent protest, and while we are fortunate this situation did not escalate into deadly force, this type of conduct is unacceptable in St. Louis,” Gardner says in a statement today.

She says her office would be open to ending the case if the McCloskeys successfully complete community service through a diversion program.

“We must protect the right to peacefully protest and any attempt to chill it through intimidation will not be tolerated,” says Gardner, a Democrat.

The McCloskeys, who are personal injury lawyers, have made worldwide news after photos and video captured them outside their St. Louis home waving guns at protesters walking by. The couple accused demonstrators of knocking down an iron gate marked with “No Trespassing” and “Private Street” signs. Video shows Mark McCloskey wielding a rifle yelling that protesters were on private property. McCloskey says he and his wife were “socially intimidated” and “terrorized” by some of the individuals and he feared for his life when they came onto his property.

Mark and Patricia McCloskey

Politicians from Missouri and beyond have spoken up about the incident. In an interview last Friday on the Marc Cox Morning Show in St. Louis, Gov. Mike Parson was asked if he would consider a pardon.

“I think that’s exactly what would happen,” Parson said.

During a press conference earlier last week, Parson stood up for the McCloskeys.

“They have the ability to do that as private citizens like everyone else,” said Parson. “But what they should not go through is a prosecutor attempting to take their Constitutional rights away by filing charges against them for protecting their property.”

He said President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General William Barr are reviewing the event.

“He understands the situation in St. Louis and how out of control it is for a prosecutor to let violent criminals off and not do their job and try to attack law-abiding citizens,” said Parson. “The conversation I had with the president said that he would do everything he could within his powers to help with this situation and that he would be taking action.”

Parson, a Republican, also suggested Gardner should be removed from office.

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, wants a federal investigation launched in the case and has sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr accusing Gardner of abusing her power.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, a Republican, has filed a request to have the case against the McCloskey’s dismissed.

Missourinet has contacted their attorney seeking comment.

Online court records say they are both scheduled to appear in court on August 31.

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet

Hawley calls for federal probe of top St. Louis prosecutor in case of armed couple

By

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, wants a federal investigation launched in the case about a St. Louis couple who pointed guns at protesters last month. He has sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr accusing St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner of abusing her power. He says Gardner’s unacceptable abuse of power has to do with Mark and Patricia McCloskey having their guns seized, being investigated and he says Gardner is pursuing a possible indictment.

Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley speaks to supporters in Winchester, Missouri (file photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI)

The McCloskeys have made national news after video and photos showed them outside their mansion wielding guns as a number of protesters walked through their neighborhood. Mark McCloskey was captured on video flashing a rifle yelling that protesters were on private property. McCloskey says he and his wife were “socially intimidated” and “terrorized” by some of the individuals and he feared for his life when they came onto his property.

In the letter, Hawley urges Barr to open a civil rights probe into the matter and says the McCloskey’s had the right to own and use their firearms to protect themselves from threatened violence.

“The Second Amendment is not a second-class right,” Hawley says.

Gardner fired back on Twitter at Hawley’s comments.

During a press conference earlier this week, Gov. Mike Parson weighed in on the clash involving Gardner and the McCloskeys.

“They have the ability to do that as private citizens like everyone else,” says Parson. “But what they should not go through is a prosecutor attempting to take their Constitutional rights away by filing charges against them for protecting their property.”

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner

He says President Donald Trump and Barr are reviewing the event.

“He understands the situation in St. Louis and how out of control it is for a prosecutor to let violent criminals off and not do their job and try to attack law-abiding citizens,” says Parson. “The conversation I had with the president said that he would do everything he could within his powers to help with this situation and that he would be taking action.”

Parson suggested that Gardner should be removed from office.

Gardner released a statement saying Parson and Trump are going after her for doing her job and investigating a case.

“While they continue to play politics with the handling of this matter, spreading misinformation and distorting the truth, I refuse to do so. As I always do, I am reviewing all the available facts and the law and will apply them equally, regardless of the people involved,” says Gardner. “It is unbelievable the Governor of the state of Missouri would seek advice from one of the most divisive leaders in our generation to overpower the discretion of a locally elected prosecutor. It is also incredible that at a time when our nation is dealing with a rapidly spreading deadly virus and our state reported a record number of new infections, they are launching these dog-whistle attacks against me. They should be focused on their jobs and I’ll focus on mine.”

Gardner’s office has not announced any charges against the McCloskeys.

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet

Parson says Trump will ‘take action’ in clash between armed St. Louis couple, protesters and prosecutor

By

Gov. Mike Parson says he talked to President Donald Trump today on the phone about a St. Louis couple who pointed guns at protesters walking through their neighborhood last month. Photos and videos have gone viral of Mark McCloskey sporting a rifle and Patricia McCloskey flashing a pistol as protesters filed by.

Mark and Patricia McCloskey

During a press conference today at the state Capitol in Jefferson City, Parson addressed the matter without being prompted by reporters. He says the McCloskeys had every right to protect their property under Missouri’s Castle Doctrine. The governor is one of the architects of Missouri’s Castle Doctrine – a law allowing residents to use force against intruders in their home.

“They have the ability to do that as private citizens like everyone else,” says Parson. “But what they should not go through is a prosecutor attempting to take their Constitutional rights away by filing charges against them for protecting their property.”

Mark McCloskey says he and his wife were socially intimidated and terrorized by some of the individuals and he feared for his life when they came onto his property.

Parson went on to say removing an elected official from office is very difficult and should be addressed in a future legislative session. He says Trump and U.S. Attorney William Barr are reviewing the event between the McCloskeys and protesters.

“He understands the situation in St. Louis and how out of control it is for a prosecutor to let violent criminals off and not do their job and try to attack law-abiding citizens,” says Parson. “The conversation I had with the president said that he would do everything he could within his powers to help with this situation and that he would be taking action.”

Mark and Patricia McCloskey

Parson did not elaborate on the kind of action the president would be taking.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner has released a statement saying Parson and Trump are going after her for doing her job and investigating a case.

“While they continue to play politics with the handling of this matter, spreading misinformation and distorting the truth, I refuse to do so. As I always do, I am reviewing all the available facts and the law and will apply them equally, regardless of the people involved,” says Gardner. “It is unbelievable the Governor of the state of Missouri would seek advice from one of the most divisive leaders in our generation to overpower the discretion of a locally elected prosecutor. It is also incredible that at a time when our nation is dealing with a rapidly spreading deadly virus and our state reported a record number of new infections, they are launching these dog-whistle attacks against me. They should be focused on their jobs and I’ll focus on mine.”

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet