Missouri: St. Louis County Judge Lawrence J. Permuter ran off I-64 twice on New Year’s Eve; busted for DWI

Judge Lawrence J. Permuter a St. Louis County Judge DUI Missouri

Judge Lawrence J. Permuter a St. Louis County Judge DUI Missouri

From STLouisToday:

UPDATED at 4 p.m. with additional information about gun found in Judge Permuter’s car.

RICHMOND HEIGHTS • A St. Louis County judge was cited on New Year’s Eve for allegedly driving while intoxicated and failing to comply with police, police and court records show.

St. Louis County Associate Circuit Judge Lawrence J. “Larry” Permuter declined to comment Monday night, saying, “No, I can’t.” Asked if he had a lawyer, he said, “I do, but he’s not going to talk to you.”

Police and crash reports obtained by the Post-Dispatch under Missouri’s open records law says that the incident began with a call to police at 12:39 p.m. A passenger in another car told police that her companion saw Permuter’s car cross at least one lane of traffic on westbound Highway 40 (Interstate 64) and collide with a concrete wall. She then watched as Permuter’s car tried to get back on the highway before colliding with the wall again, records show. The accident occurred near Big Bend Boulevard.

Permuter admitted hitting the wall but “could not tell me why. . . ” the officer’s report says.

The report says that Permuter’s car’s airbag deployed. It says that alcohol contributed to the accident, which damaged the front, rear and passenger side of Permuter’s 2003 Ford Escort, which was later towed away.

Police also found an unloaded firearm valued at $550 inside Permuter’s car at the time of the incident, according to Richmond Heights Maj. Douglas Schaeffler.    MORE