Kenneth Lee Simpson, 35, of Eureka, was taken into custody by the Missouri Highway Patrol tactical unit after a home tear gas incident. Simpson, accused of shooting two police officers, killing one, was targeted in a recent ad by the Defend Missouri PAC, blaming Attorney General Andrew Bailey for the officer’s death due to his past handling of Simpson’s case. Bailey had previously filed criminal charges against Simpson in 2017 for misdemeanors, leading to a six-month sentence. Simpson is now facing new charges for the shooting death of an officer. The ad received backlash from law enforcement organizations for exploiting the officer’s death. Bailey’s campaign condemned the ad as a political move and called for it to be taken down.
Simpson has a long criminal history dating back to 2004 and was known to law enforcement. After his arrest for the shooting, it was revealed that he was on the run for several warrants and intended to commit “suicide by cop.” The ad, narrated by Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers, does not mention Childers’ own legal issues with Bailey, as Childers has been sued by Bailey for alleged misconduct in allowing prisoners to leave jail.
The ad has stirred controversy, with calls for it to be removed and apologies to the officer’s family. Bailey’s campaign criticized the ad for disregarding the victims and manipulating the tragedy for political gains. Despite the ongoing legal battles and criticism, the ad continues to run on television, sparking debates and discussions in the Missouri political landscape.
Source
Photo credit www.stltoday.com