Man Slugged Bar Customer for No Apparent Reason, Police Say

A man faces a criminal charge after he approached another man in a sports bar and slugged him for no apparent reason, according to a St. Peters Police report.

St. Peters Police said that Richard L. James Jr, 24, of the 1000 block of Pasture Ridge in St. Peters, approached a man who was watching television in Rhinos Sports Bar and Grill on Jungermann Road on Aug. 4.

James struck the man in the face and left before police arrived. A bartender saw the assault.

Police said the man did not know James, had not spoken to him and had never met him before. Police could not find James and did not have a way to identify him.

On Sept. 24, James returned to the bar and the bartender who witnessed the assault called police. He left before police arrived, but found him one block away at the Quik Trip at 3847 McClay Road. The bartender identified him from a photo lineup.

James has several outstanding charges in St. Charles County Circuit Court, including a DWI charge stemming from a Nov. 10, 2010 traffic stop, driving while revoked

His most recent charge was for a misdemeanor theft. Police said he went into Famous Brand Shoes in Mid Rivers Mall Oct. 11 and put on a pair of shoes. He then walked out in them without paying for them.

Bail for the assault was set at $5,000. Bail on the theft also was set at $5,000.

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