Two women have been charged in connection with an assault on an off-duty police officer working security at a QuikTrip gas station in St. Louis County, Missouri. The incident, captured on cell phone video, shows the two suspects attacking the officer before one attempted to remove his firearm from its holster.
The altercation began when Nayonna Griffin, 20, allegedly threw items at the officer, prompting him to approach her. According to charging documents, Shaniya Lewis, also 20, then intervened, struggling with the officer and ultimately throwing him to the ground. While Lewis repeatedly punched the officer in the face and Griffin stomped on his head, Lewis allegedly reached for the officer's gun but was unsuccessful in removing it.
When law enforcement arrived, Griffin reportedly resisted arrest by grabbing the responding officer's hair and attempting to evade handcuffing.
The off-duty officer, who has not been identified, was hospitalized for treatment following the assault.
Lewis and Griffin are each facing charges of second-degree assault of a special victim and resisting or interfering with an arrest for a felony. Both were being held on $100,000 cash-only bonds. The St. Louis County Police Department's North County Precinct is investigating the incident.