St. Louis Police Officer Under Investigation for Smoking Cigar During Arrest

A St. Louis police officer is under investigation following an incident where he was seen smoking a cigar while detaining a suspect.

It was learnt that the incident occurred on May 12 outside Marquee Restaurant & Lounge, where the officer was working a secondary employment assignment.

According to reports, the officer was asked to remove the individual from the premises, resulting in the suspect being taken into custody for trespassing on private property and resisting arrest.

A video of the incident shows the officer borrowing a lighter from a nearby colleague to ignite his cigar while simultaneously straddling the suspect on the ground, sparking concerns about the officer's professionalism and prioritization of duties during the arrest.

The St. Louis Police Department has confirmed that an investigation into the incident is currently underway. The department takes situations like this seriously and will address any potential misconduct or unprofessional behavior by its officers.