Protesters are asking for the resignation of a St. Louis prosecutor following a car accident caused by a driver who broke his bail conditions many times. The motorist caused the double amputation of the legs of a teenage athlete from Tennessee who was visiting St. Louis.
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, a Democrat, has come under fire for not locking up the man despite his having over 50 infractions of his bail terms.
On Wednesday, February 22, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey asked for Gardner’s resignation, saying the prosecutor should resign by the following day.
Gardner was singled out by the Republican Attorney General, who said that instead of safeguarding victims, she was assisting in their creation.
Janae Edmondson, 16, was hurt while visiting St. Louis for a volleyball competition on Saturday, February 18.
Her coach stated that she was in critical condition and that both of her legs had been amputated.
According to St. Louis police, Edmondson was hurt when a driver ran a yield sign and collided with another vehicle, pinning her between two vehicles as she walked back to a motel.
Daniel Riley, a twenty-one-year-old unlicensed driver, was speeding at a junction in downtown St. Louis when his car collided with an Audi, which hit Edmondson. Riley was on bond for a 2020 robbery allegation when the accident occurred.
According to court records, the 21-year-old had routinely violated his bail conditions since June 18, 2022, and should have been detained. He was arrested and accused of driving without a valid driver’s license and numerous counts of assault.
Riley was ordered by the judge to be detained without bail until his trial.
Lawmakers, including Democrats, joined the chorus of condemnation for Gardner.