Two 20-year-old women have been charged in St. Louis County after an early Sunday morning attack on an off-duty Hillsdale Police officer at a QuikTrip gas station in Spanish Lake.
Shaniya Lewis and Nayonna Griffin are each charged with second-degree assault and resisting or interfering with arrest for a felony. Both are being held on $100,000 cash-only bonds.
According to charging documents, Griffin threw items at the officer, who was working a secondary security job at the QuikTrip on the 12100 block of Lusher Road, around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. When he approached, Lewis intervened, struggled with him, and threw him to the ground. Griffin then stomped on the officer's head while Lewis punched him repeatedly. Lewis also reached for the officer's firearm during the fight but was unable to remove it from the holster. Both women continued to resist when backup officers arrived.
The incident was captured on video that has circulated widely online, racking up over 1.5 million views on Facebook alone.
The officer was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. A Hillsdale Police Department spokesperson said he was treated, is recovering at home, and is expected to return to work in the coming days. The department thanked St. Louis County Police for the quick response.
The charges are allegations. Both women are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. No attorney for either woman has made a public statement so far.
Attacks on officers working secondary security jobs have become a grim reality in the St. Louis area, where off-duty police routinely staff gas stations and convenience stores overnight. This time the confrontation was caught on camera for the world to see.
St. Louis County police continue to investigate.
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