In a shocking incident in St. Louis, Missouri, a police officer crashed his patrol car into Bar:PM, a popular gay bar, early Monday morning. The crash resulted in the arrest of one of the bar's owners after an alleged altercation with the officers involved. The incident has sparked controversy and an ongoing investigation.

The co-owners of Bar:PM, Chad Morris and James Pence, were alerted to the crash when they heard a loud boom, leading them to rush downstairs from their residence above the bar. According to local news outlet KSDK-TV, they were stunned to find a St. Louis city police vehicle had crashed into the front of their establishment. The officer driving the patrol car reportedly lost control while maneuvering too closely to a parked car.

An incident report from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department revealed that an individual, identified as an "offender," emerged from the bar and began shouting obscenities at the officers. However, the report did not disclose the name of the offender. As one of the officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, the offender allegedly shoved the officer. Consequently, the offender was arrested on charges of assaulting an officer and resisting arrest, as stated in the report.

The St. Louis Police Department has referred inquiries to the Office of the Circuit Attorney, although no comment has been received at this time. St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones addressed the incident during a news conference on Monday, emphasizing that a thorough investigation is currently underway.

However, Morris, Pence, and their attorney, Javad Khazaeli, disputed the police department's account. According to their statement to KSDK-TV, Pence mentioned that his husband placed his hand on a police officer out of self-defense after being handcuffed, and they assert it was a reaction to the lack of information provided by the police. Khazaeli provided insight into a video he possesses, which allegedly depicts the officer threatening to arrest the person filming the incident.

Furthermore, Khazaeli shared surveillance footage from a nearby business that purportedly shows the police vehicle speeding down the street where Bar:PM is located. He also claimed that officers physically assaulted Morris when he arrived at the scene and attempted to inquire about his husband's arrest.

In response to the incident, members of the community have rallied together to support Bar:PM and its owners. Zach Gandy, a St. Louis resident from the Rudis Leather Society, gathered a group of volunteers to help clean up the bar to allow for its prompt reopening.

Prosecutors have reportedly agreed to release Morris on his own recognizance, reducing the felony assault charge to a misdemeanor. Khazaeli expressed the intention to have all charges dismissed based on the belief that they lack a valid basis. Moreover, he aims to hold the officers accountable and seek justice for his clients.

As investigations continue, the LGBTQ+ community and its allies are closely monitoring the developments, expecting transparency and accountability in resolving this troubling incident.