ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis man is scheduled to appear in court Monday afternoon for stealing an SUV while the owner stood outside a barbershop with his son.
According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s probable cause statement, the theft happened on April 3 in the 4000 block of North Kingshighway Boulevard in the Penrose neighborhood.
Police said John E. Weaver, 38, approached the victim while the victim was putting his son inside his vehicle, a 2020 Ford Ecosport. Weaver held his hand at his waist as though he were armed and demanded the victim take his son from the SUV.
The victim complied and turned over his keys to Weaver, who drove off in the Ecosport, police said. The victim and his child were unharmed.
A short time later, an officer located the stolen Ecosport and began pursuing the vehicle Police said Weaver fled at high speeds while weaving in and out of traffic lanes.
The vehicle was eventually stopped and Weaver taken into custody. Police said Weaver confessed to taking the SUV.
The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office charged Weaver with first-degree robbery and aggravated fleeing a stop.
Weaver had been on probation for attacking a Department of Corrections employee in Cole County.