Former St. Ann Police Officer Indicted on Federal Civil Rights Charges for Causing Bodily Injury to an Individual

St. Louis – Former St. Ann Police Officer Ellis Brown has been indicted by a federal Grand Jury, United States Attorney Jeffrey B. Jensen announced today.  According to the Indictment, Brown was working as an officer with the St. Ann Police Department on April 9, 2019 when he “willfully deprived” victim S.K. of his/her Constitutional right to be free from unreasonable seizures when Brown “repeatedly kicked S.K. while S.K. was compliant and not posing a physical threat to anyone.”  According to the indictment, S.K. suffered bodily injury as a result of the incident.

"When making an arrest, a police officer is given the authority to use only the level of force necessary," said Special Agent in Charge Richard Quinn of the FBI St. Louis Division. "In this case, Officer Ellis Brown is accused of using unreasonable force by repeatedly kicking an individual who was compliant and not posing a physical threat to anyone."

Brown made his initial appearance today before United States Magistrate Judge David D. Noce.  Brown was allowed to remain free on bond, and was ordered to surrender any and all firearms, and will not be permitted to possess a firearm for any purpose so long as the case remains pending.

The charge Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both imprisonment and a fine.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case.

As is always the case, the charge in an indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.