ST. LOUIS – An 18-year-old was arrested Thursday after police responded to a mental health crisis that turned into an officer-involved shooting.
According to St. Louis Metropolitan Police, Ethan Flemming, 18, was arrested for refusal to drop a hammer as police responded to the crisis on Friday, November 1 around 6:45 p.m. in the 5200 block of Idaho Avenue in the Carondelet neighborhood.
Reportedly, before police arrived, Flemming was threatening his mother and another woman. Flemming had used the hammer in an attempt to damage a gate to a vinyl fence in a gangway when police arrived.
SLMPD said Flemming began walking out of the gangway toward the officers, and when officers ordered him to drop the hammer, he did not.
Flemming continued to walk toward the officers and in response, a 30-year-old officer whom police said has served over 6 years shot Flemming, striking him in the leg.
Another 30-year-old officer with over 2 years of service deployed a taser, and Flemming was taken into custody.
SLMPD said Flemming was taken to a hospital where he was listed in stable condition. No officers were injured during the incident.
An affidavit for a mandatory psychological evaluation was prepared since the suspect has been experiencing recent episodes of mental health crises.
The Circuit Attorney’s Office issued charges against Flemming for exhibiting unlawful use of a weapon and second-degree property damage.
Note: The video above is from Nov. 1