ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A FOX 2 News crew caught up with police officer-turned-suspect Preston Caruso as he left the St. Louis County Circuit Court with a decision from a judge granting him some leeway in his bond release.
As he walked out, we asked, “What did happen after that crash in Chesterfield?”
Caruso had no answer about the October 2024 crash on Interstate 64 in Chesterfield Valley. St. Louis County prosecutors allege Caruso was involved in a crash while off duty and was recorded by the other driver saying, “If you blame it on me, I’m going to [expletive] you up” as well as “I will murder you right here on the side of the road.”
In court records, a prosecutor said you could hear the sounds of Caruso hitting the other driver.
We also asked Caruso, “What did you say?” We were met with silence again.
Caruso reportedly resigned from the Florissant Police Department the day he was charged.
This past February, FOX 2 reported on a case when Caruso was still with the department which is now the focus of a civil lawsuit: Caruso’s response to a 2021 noise complaint.
Police bodycam video shows Officer Caruso telling two men, “I need to see IDs”
then approached them, saying, “Turn around put your hands behind your back,” before slamming one of them against their vehicle.
The impacted family is now suing, claiming it was excessive force. The family’s attorney, Mark Pedroli, acquired internal police paperwork showing the department decided Caruso’s actions complied with department policy.
FOX 2 also asked about that case after Thursday’s court hearing. “Do you stand by your actions that night?”
Caruso remained silent for each of our three questions.
In court, he was able to successfully convince a judge that he be able to remove his ankle monitor and instead be monitored by a cell phone GPS program.
Caruso’s police license is currently suspended according to the Missouri Department of Public Safety, with further action against his license being considered at a hearing coming up in August. He’s also back in court on the assault case in April.
