Former police officer accused of falsely arresting candidate

ST. LOUIS -- Federal prosecutors have charged a former Pine Lawn, Missouri, police lieutenant with falsely arresting a mayoral candidate two years ago -- the latest allegation of wrongdoing involving public officials in the small St. Louis County town.

The FBI on Tuesday arrested Steven Blakeney, 34, who was fired from the police force in December. Blakeney was indicted last week by a federal grand jury on one count each of conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law and falsification of records.

Blakeney didn't have a listed attorney or phone number, and Pine Lawn City Hall didn't immediately respond to a phone message seeking contact information for the former officer.

The indictment does not name the mayoral candidate, but it alleges that in March 2013, Blakeney directed "A.S." to report that "N.F." had stolen a campaign poster from Pine Lawn Market. Blakeney and other officers "placed her under arrest and transported her to the Pine Lawn police station, where television news outlets were waiting," the indictment alleges.

In April, during an extortion trial for former Pine Lawn mayor Sylvester Caldwell, the market's manager, Akram Samed, testified he helped frame Nakisha Ford, who was running against Caldwell. Samed said he feared repercussions from Caldwell.

The trial ended when Caldwell agreed to plead guilty and resign as mayor of the town of 3,300 residents in northern St. Louis County. He was sentenced to nearly three years in prison.

Also in April, former Pine Lawn mayor Adrian Wright, 80, sued the city, alleging he was falsely arrested for traffic violations as part of a smear campaign orchestrated by Caldwell. Charges against Wright eventually were dropped, but Wright said in his lawsuit he was forced to do a "perp walk" in front of local TV news crews. Wright had been critical of Caldwell.

U.S. Attorney Richard Callahan said in a statement residents of Pine Lawn deserve better from their public officials, and he encouraged them to become more involved in local government.

Blakeney was fired after allegations he had another officer come to his home and drive home two women Blakeney had met at a bar. The women submitted written statements in which they said they woke up in Blakeney's home with no memory of how they got there.

Blakeney said the women's allegations were made up, and he filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in January. He alleged he was fired in retaliation for his cooperation in the federal investigation of Caldwell.