St. Louis Police Recover Projectile Launcher Stolen from SWAT Bunker

ST. LOUIS — City police on Tuesday recovered a projectile launcher stolen last week from a SWAT bunker in department headquarters.

The Penn Arms pump action .40mm launcher was found at an undisclosed home in Jefferson County after authorities received a tip about its location, said St. Louis police spokesman Mitch McCoy. Such launchers are used by police to shoot projectiles, including bean bags and tear gas, and are not supposed to be owned by civilians.

It was one of several weapons that was taken from headquarters last week when a man ducked into the department's parking garage and walked around "pulling on door handles and looking into windows of vehicles," police said.

Alex Johnston, 25, who was charged with the break-in, made his first appearance in court Tuesday. He was ordered to be held without bond.

On April 21, court documents say Johnston was caught on surveillance video ducking into the department garage as its gate was closing. He disappeared from camera view for a short time and then later reappeared wearing a police tactical vest with SLMPD patches.

He then entered the SWAT bunker and loaded two duffel bags with guns, ammunition and the launcher, court records say.

Police didn't notice the items were missing until two days later. Their investigation led them to Johnson's Crystal City home in the early morning hours of April 24 where they found a starter pistol, an SLMPD vest, a shotgun and shotgun ammunition.

Later that day, they arrested Johnston at a home in Fredericktown, Missouri, about 90 miles south of St. Louis. He was charged with multiple crimes, including burglary, unlawful possession of a weapon and stealing.

The next hearing in his case is set for May 5.

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