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A woman found herself abandoned in the middle of the night on a bustling road in rural southeast Missouri after she had claimed she was escaping from a violent situation.

Amidst the serene surroundings of Forest Park, a young man was found abandoned beneath a tree, miraculously alive despite sustaining a gunshot wound to the head.

Both of them share a common connection despite being physically distant from each other: they both had encounters with law enforcement officers in their last moments. Recently, the state of Missouri has taken action by filing formal disciplinary complaints against these officers, alleging that they did not fulfill their duties.

First Alert 4 Investigates discovered two pending cases before the Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission involving peace officer disciplinary actions. These cases involve Michelle Anders and Urayoan Rodriguez-Rivera.

Two Dunklin County sheriff’s deputies and two former St. Louis Metropolitan police officers are facing disciplinary action, which includes receiving a letter of reprimand or having their peace officer licenses suspended or revoked.

The Missouri Department of Public Safety brings forward numerous disciplinary cases each year, which are represented by the state Attorney General’s Office. The incidents mentioned above are just a small fraction of these cases.

But they are also different. While the majority of disciplinary complaints revolve around the actions of an officer, such as committing a crime or engaging in immoral behavior, the cases involving Anders and Rodriguez-Rivera focus on the failures of law enforcement.

A dark night in Missouri’s Bootheel

Around 11 p.m. on July 9, 2023, Michelle Anders found herself injured, alone, and possibly intoxicated, lying on the side of U.S. Highway 412. In her vulnerable state, she noticed the unmistakable red and blue lights of a Dunklin County sheriff’s cruiser approaching her.

As she spoke to Deputies Joseph Philpot and Nicholas Cobb, she revealed that she had been walking all the way from Little Rock to escape a violent situation. Her face bore visible bruises, and there was a noticeable knot on her head. In the disciplinary complaints filed against both deputies, it was mentioned that she claimed to have a broken shoulder.

In the body camera footage, which was shared with First Alert 4 Investigates, the deputies inquired if she required an ambulance, to which she declined. They proceeded to inquire about her intended destination, and she mentioned that she was on her way to Chicago to visit her son.

Anders informed the deputies that she did not possess a phone, was unfamiliar with the area, and requested them for transportation to the closest gas station.

It became clear after they had a conversation with each other that it was not going to happen.

Philpot asks Cobb if he wants to give her a ride.

Cobb responded with a negative tone, saying, “Not really.”

The footage shows that the deputies instructed her to walk and advised her to rest in the grass rather than on the shoulder of the highway.

Cobb expressed his concern to her, saying, “I don’t want you to get run over.”

Anders begged the deputies to take her to town, pleading, “Can you please bring me there?”

Their response was that they didn’t have enough space in their cruiser.

Cobb informed her, “I don’t have any space to accommodate your belongings. My car is already full. Just make sure you stay away from the white line and continue walking.”

According to her sister, Anders, a mother of two children, has been deeply affected by the loss. If only someone had offered her simple assistance, her sister believes that she would have preferred Anders to be arrested instead.

“I get to spend the rest of my life without her, and so do her children. She won’t have the chance to witness their weddings or be a grandmother, all because of those deputies,” lamented her sister.

According to her sister, showing a little kindness on the night Anders died could have potentially saved her life. Her sister believes that the deputies not only deserve disciplinary action but also should face criminal charges.

“My sister’s life was lost due to their negligence,” her sister lamented. “They failed to fulfill their duty to serve and protect, and the consequences were dire. They callously dismissed her pleas, refusing to accommodate her belongings, and within just 13 minutes, she was gone forever.”

Philpot has denied the allegations in response to the disciplinary process. According to his attorney, Philpot stated that although Anders had visible injuries, she declined an ambulance. He further added that Anders did not appear intoxicated, was not accused of a crime, and therefore he could not arrest her.

According to Philpot, a report from the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office on July 6 revealed that Anders was a suspect in a domestic violence case, rather than the victim. However, it seems that Anders was not aware of this information at the time, as indicated by his police report and the dash camera video.

He further adds that he had no grounds to perceive her as a danger to himself or anyone else. Moreover, considering that she had just been discharged from a hospital where she received treatment for her injuries, it is likely that she underwent a suicide evaluation.

Cobb’s attorney indicated that he was unable to provide extensive comments on the ongoing case. However, he assured First Alert 4 Investigates that his client was fully prepared to staunchly defend himself and firmly believed that he would ultimately be proven innocent.

Both deputies are still employed by the agency. When contacted about the incident, Sheriff Bob Holder declined to comment.

200 miles north, under a tree in Forest Park

Urayoan Rodriguez-Rivera, a 29-year-old, made the decision to relocate from Puerto Rico to St. Louis after successfully securing a job online, according to his mother. He settled in an apartment building situated in the Central West End, a mere stone’s throw away from Forest Park.

Rodriguez-Rivera had been grappling with his mental health for quite some time. As per the disciplinary complaints filed with the state, on September 10, 2023, he reached out to 911 and informed the dispatcher about his intention to take his own life.

Officers Fraser and Warren are facing potential consequences that could result in the revocation of their badges due to their alleged failure to fulfill their duties when they encountered the individual in question. The disciplinary complaints reveal that Warren, initially, informed Fraser about the necessity of responding to the call and documenting the incident.

“We have to take this (expletive) then,” Warren allegedly said to his partner.

Afterwards, they proceeded to navigate through various streets in the Central West End, only to come back once another officer had arrived at the scene.

When Tubbs discovered Rodriguez-Rivera at 6:39 p.m., he was still alive and breathing. Thinking that he was the first officer to arrive at the location, Tubbs immediately contacted EMS for assistance. Rodriguez-Rivera was subsequently transported to a hospital, but unfortunately, he passed away the next day.

During a routine review of body camera recordings, the complaint revealed that officers Fraser and Warren’s actions were discovered. When confronted by their supervisors, Warren admitted to making a “dumb” mistake and succumbing to pressure from Fraser.

There is limited information available about Rodriguez-Rivera’s background or the reasons for his move to St. Louis from Puerto Rico. However, his mother, in an interview with First Alert 4, mentioned that discussing her son’s death is too painful for her. Despite that, she described him as a calm and intelligent individual.

According to an investigation by the St. Louis Medical Examiner’s Office, Rodriguez-Rivera’s mother revealed that he had been battling depression for several years. Just a week before his passing, he sought help from a psychiatrist and was subsequently admitted to Barnes Hospital for a two-day stay as a result of experiencing suicidal thoughts.

According to the investigation conducted by the medical examiner, Rodriguez-Rivera left a note indicating his intent to end his own life. Additionally, he made arrangements to ensure that his roommate was compensated for the remaining months of 2023 by paying his share of the rent.

According to the medical examiner’s investigation, he possessed the gun he utilized, as it was reported at the scene when officers first arrived. The investigation referred to hospital notes as evidence. However, the police later contradicted this information, stating that no firearm was found and that it had been stolen prior to the officers’ arrival.

First Alert 4 reached out to the authorities, requesting body camera footage and incident reports regarding the incident. Unfortunately, the department’s records custodian refused to provide an unredacted copy of the incident report. It is worth noting that at the time of writing this article, the request for the body camera footage was still in the process of being reviewed.

Warren and Fraser both became officers in October 2019. However, Warren left the department in October 2023. On the other hand, Fraser initially left in 2022 but later returned for re-employment in August 2023. Unfortunately, he left the department just one month later, four days after the tragic incident of suicide.

First Alert 4 Investigates has reached out to both parties for a response, but has yet to receive a reply.

The St. Louis police declined to provide a comment on the matter. According to spokesperson Mitch McCoy, the agency maintains a commitment to upholding the highest standards for its officers.

According to McCoy, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has terminated the employment of the two individuals. While specific details cannot be disclosed, the department maintains a commitment to upholding the highest standards for its officers. Any officer found to have violated policies will face appropriate disciplinary action.

Pending discipline

The Missouri Department of Public Safety takes action if they determine that a police officer’s license is subject to disciplinary measures. In such cases, they forward the relevant information to the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, who then files a complaint.

The attorney general submits the complaint to the Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission, which is responsible for deciding on disciplinary measures. As per state law, there are three main categories for disciplinary action: an officer engaging in “gross misconduct,” an officer involved in an act of “moral turpitude,” or an officer displaying “reckless disregard.”

Possible re-write: “The consequences for an officer’s actions can vary, ranging from a formal reprimand issued by their employer to more severe penalties such as a suspension or even revocation of their peace officer license. This would effectively bar them from performing law enforcement duties within the state.”

The hearings for Dunklin County deputies Cobb and Philpot are scheduled for February in Jefferson City. According to the complaint, the officers’ actions demonstrated a “reckless disregard” for Anders’ safety.

According to the complaints, Cobb and Philpot demonstrated a complete disregard for M.A.’s safety by abandoning her on a busy road at night. They were well aware that M.A. was a potential victim of domestic violence, and she was also severely injured and intoxicated.

Fraser and Warren face allegations of moral turpitude, reckless disregard, and gross misconduct in connection to their involvement in the death of Rodriguez-Rivera.

According to the complaints, the primary duty of a peace officer is to protect and save lives.

On October 18, the Administrative Hearing Commission made the decision to discipline former SLMPD Officer Warren by issuing a default decision. The Missouri Department of Public Safety has confirmed that his license is now inactive.

Fraser’s case is scheduled for a hearing in January.

Gary Burger, a seasoned attorney from the St. Louis area, specializes in handling law enforcement cases. When asked about the concept of “reckless disregard,” he explained it as having full knowledge of the rules but choosing to disregard them regardless.

According to Burger, the state is accusing the officers of exactly that in all cases.

“They both go beyond what is acceptable,” Burger said in an interview with First Alert 4 Investigates. “I believe they both exceed that threshold. It is inappropriate for a police officer to leave injured individuals in harm’s way, as it not only puts them in danger but also poses a risk to others.”

According to Burger, holding police accountable for their actions is already a challenging task. However, he argues that it is even more difficult to hold them responsible for their inaction. While families may choose to pursue a lawsuit, the chances of criminal charges being brought against the police are slim.

According to Burger, officers are protected by the law, making it difficult to hold them accountable for their actions. When officers actively engage in acts such as making an arrest or using physical force, it can be challenging to establish civil or criminal responsibility. However, Burger highlights that the challenge becomes even greater when officers fail to take action, as their lack of intervention is considered an act of omission.

He mentioned that the law would provide them with additional defenses.

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