ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A University City man is accused of grabbing a Ferguson police officer’s firearm as that officer was making an arrest last Friday outside the police department.
According to the Ferguson Police Department’s probable cause statement, the incident took place just before midnight on August 9 in the 200 block of South Florissant Road, outside the police department.
Police said Tauren Taylor, 29, was part of a small group of protesters that approached the department security gate and began shaking and jerking the gate in a violent manner. This ultimately damaged the gate.
An arrest team was dispatched to arrest individuals responsible for damaging the gate.
According to police, protester Elijah Gantt knocked down one of the arrest team’s officers, Travis Brown, who suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result.
As officers attempted to take Gantt into custody, Taylor allegedly grabbed hold of an officer’s Sig Sauer 40 caliber sidearm and attempted to take the weapon out of its holster.
Police said that officer turned and grabbed Taylor, who then broke away and disappeared into the crowd. Taylor was eventually located and arrested.
At the time of his arrest, Taylor was on probation for resisting arrest in St. Louis County.
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Taylor with attempted stealing of a firearm, fourth-degree assault, first-degree property damage, and resisting arrest for a felony. Taylor remains jailed on a $25,000 cash-only bond. He’s due in court on August 21 for a bond reduction hearing.
