The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on Nov. 15 on suspect Terrell Gholson, 30, of the 3600 block of Roger Place in St. Louis, 63116, for third-degree assault of a special victim, fourth-degree felony stealing and resisting/interfering with arrest for a felony.

Gholson is being held on a $75,000 cash only, no 10% bond.

The charges are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

According to a probable cause statement, at 8:37 p.m. on Nov. 14, Gholson went into a sporting goods store in the 500 block of South County Center Way. He took clothing, placed it into a red backpack and did not pay for the items.

Police were then called regarding the theft.

Officer No. 1 responded and located Gholson, matching the description given. Gholson ran from the officer through the parking lots, dropping the backpack containing the stolen merchandise in the process. Despite dropping the backpack, Gholson continued to flee from the police, hopping a fence in the backyard of a nearby residence.

Officer No. 1 followed Gholson over the fence. Gholson ran up the side yard and turned into a neighbor’s yard in the 3900 block of Cordes Drive, where Officer No. 2 met him. Gholson began to actively resist arrest, using physical force. As the officers attempted to put Gholson into a patrol car, he headbutted Officer No. 2 in the face, splitting open her eyebrow, causing bleeding. She later went to Mercy South Hospital for her injury.

The officers ended up using OC spray – also known as pepper spray – and force to get Gholson to comply.

Officer No. 1 later located the discarded stolen merchandise.

Gholson has three prior stealing offenses – all within the last 10 years – with findings of guilt. The St. Louis County Police Department South County Precinct officers are leading this investigation.