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"Both the kitchen window and the bedroom window looked down on that lot."

I'll tell you what. I'll concede that you used to live in the 5th house on Mullally Dr in St. Louis, MO. Furthermore, I'll concede that both the kitchen window and the bedroom window looked down on that lot.

No mas, no mas.

Now, is is possible (without the sarcasm this time) that the cop was telling the truth about the recent rash of break-in of cars after midnight in that lot? If you think he's lying, is it only because of your personal experience at that address, or do you have something somehow associated with the real world? Like proof of no filed police reports?

Personal experience and common sense

The lot is very visible

Close to a dozen houses can easily see it (before looking at Google Earth I thought the number was a bit less)

It is visible from Reavis Barracks Rd.

It is visible from the 55 freeway.

Spokane Rd (which has the actual entrance to the lot) is very poor. It is impossible to drive fast on it, and the entrance is far enough down the road to dissuade someone from viewing that lot as a good target with hopes of getting away.

Spokane dead ends on the other side, so there is only one way out. Not the best option if you’re a thief.

Much easier to go to a shopping mall or office building and bust out windows and grab things.

The cop was obviously full of it.

You know, you've referred several times to a "recent rash of break-ins" and to a "high crime area," and I'd be interested to know your source for those claims. The cop never made either claim, and I have not read it any place else. There is additionally a poster here who lived across the street from that parking lot until fairly recently who says it is not a high crime area. Here is the only statement the cop made about break-ins:

"First of all we have people try to commit suicide in here. We have car thieves come in here. We have people break into cars here."

No "recent rash," no "high crime area." And he never once comes back to this. Instead, he repeats several times that he doesn't need any reason at all to pull somebody over, or to demand pat-downs on pedestrians.

According to the articles, this cop either violated procedure by not taping with his own cameras, or he did tape it and destroyed evidence after the fact. He is very lucky that he only got fired and is not facing charges.

The cop's behavior is 100% indefensible.