ST. LOUIS • A former St. Louis police officer has been charged with harassing a transgender male who flies a gay pride flag in front of a home in the Tower Grove East neighborhood.
Jeffrey Michael Leveque, 45, faces a single count of "harassment motivated by discrimination to frighten or disturb another person," a felony. He is accused of yelling anti-gay slurs and posting on Craigslist a photo of the person's home and gay pride flag.
Prosecutors say Leveque did that from Dec. 10 to Dec. 15. The victim is referred in court papers only as "K.E."
It started when K.E. left home in the 3400 block of Connecticut Street and tried to get into a car, but the car was blocked by another vehicle that Leveque was riding in, authorities say.
Police officer Jerod Breit said in court papers that Leveque's words and actions frightened K.E. The criminal complaint says the incident also put K.E. "in reasonable apprehension of offensive physical contact or harm" and that Leveque was "knowingly motivated by the sexual orientation" of K.E.
After K.E. left the home, Leveque allegedly posted a picture of the front of K.E.'s home and the intersection. The posting also included a photo of the gay pride flag that was out front. The post referred to K.E. using anti-gay slurs.
Leveque lives in the 9900 block of Jeffrey Drive, off of Chambers Road in north St. Louis County. Bail has been set at $20,000. The charge was filed Wednesday.
He was a St. Louis police officer from November 2001 to April 2004. He resigned while under investigation by Internal Affairs.
He has prior runs-in with the law. According to court files, Leveque was put on five years' probation in September after being convicted of receiving stolen property in St. Louis County. The property was construction materials from a Home Depot employee. In addition, Leveque was put on two years' probation in 2007 for third-degree assault.
The charge he now faces in St. Louis for harassment is a felony punishable by up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
The alleged victim did not reply to a request for comment Thursday. The victim's partner said she was advised not to talk to the media in case it goes to trial.