28-year-old St. Louis man first to be charged under Valentine's Law

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - For the first time, Valentine's Law is being used in a St. Louis County Police case. The law is named after Detective Antonio Valentine, who died in 2021, after being hit by fleeing suspect.

Valentine's Law makes the penalties much stiffer if a suspect flees from police and puts the public and police at risk.

The St. Louis County Prosecutor has charged 28-year old Andrew Laramie under Valentine's law, after he eluded police trying to stop him for a traffic violation. When Laramie allegedly took off, he drove into the wrong lane of traffic and struck a car, causing extensive damage.

Police found Laramie's truck in a ditch, he was running away from it, but police eventually apprehended him.

Laramie is charged with aggravated fleeing a stop and leaving the scene of an accident. He's being held on a $50,000 cash-only bond.