ST. LOUIS, MO (September 26, 2024) — Cortez Darrell Sipes, 38, pleaded guilty to shooting two police officers, resisting arrest and drug trafficking in the city’s Soulard neighborhood on February 2, 2023.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officers Sean Miskovic, 25, and Lucas Roethlisberger, 39, were on patrol late in the evening of Feb. 2 when they saw a silver pick-up truck matching the description of a vehicle wanted for a robbery in the area. When they attempted to stop the truck, driven by Sipes, it took off at a high rate of speed, leading to a chase that ended when Sipes crashed into Soulard farmer’s market. As the two officers pulled up behind him, Sipes got out of his truck and began firing his weapon, striking Officer Miskovic as he was firing his taser at Sipes.

As Officer Roethlisberger was getting out of the police car, he was hit by a bullet from Sipes’ gun, took cover behind the vehicle, and returned fire. Officer Roethlisberger then chased Sipes on foot and shot him in the ankle. Sipes threw his gun in a nearby dumpster and fell to the ground. Despite having been shot, Officer Roethlisberger was able to hold Sipes down until another officer arrived to place him under arrest. The weapon Sipes used was a so-called “ghost” gun with an extended magazine, assembled from random untraceable parts. The incident was captured on police dashcam and bodycam footage. Both officers recovered from their injuries and returned to active duty. It was the second time that Officer Roethlisberger has been shot in the line of duty.

Police found Sipes carrying five grams of fentanyl, as well as individual baggies of crack cocaine and Xanax pills in his truck. He has multiple prior convictions for drug possession, resisting arrest, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The case was prosecuted by Violent Crime Unit Supervisor Assistant Circuit Attorney Tanja Engelhardt and Assistant Circuit Attorney Andrew Russek.

“Our city and our courageous police officers are safer with this dangerous felon unable to continue to wreak havoc on our streets,” said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “Incidents like this remind us that police officers put their lives on the line every moment of every day, and how easily a traffic stop can go sideways.”

Sipes is scheduled to be sentenced November 1, 2024, by 22nd Circuit Judge Timothy J. Boyer.

Sipes’ case number in Missouri Case.net is 2322-CR00197-01.

                                                           ###