A police officer from suburban St. Louis has been apprehended and charged with assault and kidnapping following an incident on July 4th. The officer, Samuel Davis, allegedly arrested a man without notifying dispatch or filing a report. According to the probable cause statement, Davis deactivated his body camera before transporting the individual to an isolated location outside Northwoods. There, he allegedly pepper-sprayed the man, subjected him to a beating with a baton, and warned him against returning to Northwoods.

A witness who discovered the injured man contacted 911. The victim sustained a broken jaw and other significant injuries. St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell issued an arrest warrant for Davis on Friday, leading to his arrest in Fayetteville, North Carolina on Monday.

Prosecuting Attorney Bell commented on the incident, stating that such actions tarnish the reputation of law enforcement officers who perform their duties correctly and are weary of their profession being negatively impacted by the misconduct of a few.

Davis is currently being extradited back to St. Louis, where he will be held on a $750,000 cash-only bond. As of Monday, online court records did not indicate legal representation for Davis. Northwoods Police Chief Dennis Shireff confirmed Davis's suspension pending the investigation's outcome. Chief Shireff emphasized the importance of supporting the prosecutor's findings unless compelling contradictory evidence emerges.