Missouri Officer Accepted Probation for 2019 Shooting
Former Ladue police officer Julia Crews agreed to license probation following a 2019 shooting incident.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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Julia Crews, an officer involved in the 2019 shooting of Ashley Fountain during a shoplifting call, has agreed to license probation. This settlement concludes a disciplinary complaint filed by the Missouri Department of Public Safety in 2024.
Why it matters
The disciplinary agreement marks the resolution of administrative oversight regarding the officer following a previous criminal case. It addresses professional standards for law enforcement officers in Missouri years after the initial incident.
Assault charges against Julia Crews were dismissed in 2021 through restorative justice. The state's disciplinary complaint was filed in 2024 following the officer's move to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
The players
Julia Crews
She is a law enforcement officer who served with the Ladue Police Department and later the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Ashley Fountain
She was the individual shot by an officer during a 2019 shoplifting call in Ladue.
Missouri Department of Public Safety
This state agency oversees law enforcement licensing and disciplinary actions across Missouri.
Ladue Police Department
This local agency employed the officer at the time of the 2019 shooting incident.
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
This agency has employed the officer since 2022.
The details
In 2019, while serving with the Ladue Police Department, Julia Crews shot Ashley Fountain in the back during a response to a shoplifting call. The city of Ladue reached a $2 million settlement with Fountain in 2020, while criminal charges against Crews were later dismissed by the court system.
Timeline
2019: Julia Crews shot Ashley Fountain during a shoplifting call in Ladue.
2020: The city of Ladue settled a lawsuit with Fountain for $2 million.
2021: Assault charges against Crews were dismissed through restorative justice.
2022: Crews began employment with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
2024: The Missouri Department of Public Safety filed a disciplinary complaint.
Legal Context
This case highlights the intersection of criminal court outcomes and state-level professional licensing standards for law enforcement. The dismissal of charges via restorative justice follows a pattern set by Missouri's restorative justice statutes.
The resolution of this disciplinary case provides closure for a long-standing incident that affected Ladue community safety protocols. It ensures that the state registry maintains accountability for officers currently serving in Missouri departments.
The takeaway
The settlement of this disciplinary complaint concludes the administrative proceedings surrounding an incident that has persisted in the state legal system for several years. It underscores the ongoing state monitoring of officers after initial criminal charges are resolved.
Further reading
For more information on state oversight, visit the Law Enforcement section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Firstalert4.
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