St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell Archives

Hundreds turn out in Ferguson for fifth anniversary of Michael Brown’s death

August 9, 2019 By Missourinet Contributor

(This story is written by Missourinet St. Louis contributor Jill Enders)

FERGUSON, Mo.- Today marks the fifth anniversary of the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown during a confrontation with then Ferguson Police officer Darren Wilson.

Michael Brown Sr. speaks at the Canfield Green apartments in Ferguson on August 9, 2019 (Jill Enders photo)

Prior to the annual ceremony at the Canfield Green apartments, Mike Brown Sr. held a press conference outside the St. Louis County Justice Center in Clayton. Brown is calling on St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell to re-open the case into his son’s death.

“I could not protect him that day (in 2014) and it breaks my heart. I will stand and fight for justice until the day I die,” Brown says.

Brown tells reporters he’s been communicating with Bell, who defeated longtime St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch in last year’s primary election. Bell was elected in November, and took office in January.

Bell hasn’t said whether or not he’ll re-open the case. He did issue a statement to Missourinet.

“Our office is doing everything we can to understand the underlying issues that contributed to the tragic death of Michael Brown. We are working everyday with the community and law enforcement to implement policies and reforms that meaningfully address those issues, and help this community and this region heal,” Bell’s statement reads.

It was announced on November 24, 2014 that a St. Louis County grand jury decided not to indict Officer Wilson. The announcement resulted in violent protests in Ferguson.

A separate investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice also cleared Wilson of any wrongdoing.

Flags will be at half-staff in Missouri on Monday to honor fallen officer

June 29, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s acting governor has ordered that U.S. and state flags at all government buildings in Missouri be flown at half-staff on Monday, to honor an officer who was killed last Sunday in the line of duty.

North County Police Cooperative Officer Michael Langsdorf was killed in the line of duty on June 23, 2019 in Wellston (photo courtesy of Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary website)

Acting Governor Mike Kehoe has issued the order, on behalf of Governor Mike Parson, who is out of the country. The flags will be flown at half-staff Monday to honor North County Police Cooperative Officer Michael Langsdorf, who was shot to death Sunday while responding to a bad check complaint in Wellston.

The 40-year-old Langsdorf had previously worked for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for 17 years.

“For 17 years, Michael Langsdorf patrolled the streets of the St. Louis area, confronting violence and taking risks so others could be safer and the community could be stronger,” Acting Governor Mike Kehoe says. “Since his tragic, senseless killing, we’ve learned about the impact one individual officer can have over a career – from helping save a toddler from a burning building to mentoring and guiding younger officers. We are all indebted to Michael Langsdorf, and we will always remember the difference he made for the St. Louis region.”

The funeral mass for Officer Michael Vincent Langsdorf will be Monday morning at 10 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. Visitation is Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary. The funeral home is on Chippewa in south St. Louis.

Donations are suggested to Backstoppers, a St. Louis-area organization that provides ongoing needed financial assistance and support to spouses and dependent children of police officers, firefighters, paramedics and EMT’s who die in the line of duty.

St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell has charged Bonette Meeks with first degree murder, resisting arrest and two other felonies, for Officer Langsdorf’s killing. Meeks, who is jailed without bond, is scheduled to appear in court in Clayton for an August 12 preliminary hearing.

A judge has ordered Meeks to be jailed without bond, describing him as a “threat to community given allegations and disregard for human life.”