Sergeant Pelham C. Scott

Pelham C. Scott

Sergeant Scott and Special Officer Edward Juettmeyer were shot and killed after arresting two men in a stolen vehicle at 2300 hours. Both suspects were taken to the police station, located in City Hall. The suspects were being booked when one of the men grabbed Sergeant Scott's service revolver. The man was holding Sergeant Scott and a police clerk at gunpoint when the clerk attacked the suspect and pushed him down a flight of stairs.

The suspect got up and fired five times through a glass door at Special Officer Juettmeyer, who was just walking into the building. Officer Juettmeyer was struck in the left eye. The suspect then fired the remaining shot at another special officer who was standing in the parking lot. Once he fired all the shots, the man picked up Officer Juettmeyer's service revolver and fired at Sergeant Scott, who was now unarmed and running down the stairs in an attempt to apprehend the suspect. Sergeant Scott was struck in the abdomen.

The suspect then fled the scene, stole a truck, and drove to his home in St. Louis. He was arrested a short time later.

Both officers were taken to County Hospital where Sergeant Scott was pronounced dead. Officer Juettmeyer died from his wound at approximately 0100 hours the following morning.

The suspect was apprehended, convicted of Sergeant Scott's murder, and sentenced to death. On May 16, 1952, his sentence was commuted to life.

Officer Juettmeyer was a part-time officer who worked on Friday and Saturday nights. Part-time officers were paid 75-cents per hour.

Sergeant Scott had served with the Overland Police Department for 4 years and had previously served as a St. Louis County constable and deputy for 16 years. He was survived by his wife.