HAWK POINT – A Hawk Point police officer has been prohibited from driving while on duty but remains actively employed as he faces multiple driving while intoxicated charges.

Last week, the Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney’s office formally charged Nickolas Schnelle with a Class B misdemeanor of DWI after a traffic stop Nov. 13, 2024.

According to court records, Missouri State Highway Patrol Officer Robert Allee stopped Schnelle for speeding on Highway 47, near Gravens Road.

“While speaking with Schnelle, I observed his speech to be heavily slurred and slow. I detected a moderate odor of alcohol intoxicants coming from Schnelle as he spoke,” Allee stated in the probable cause statement filed with the Lincoln County Associate Court.

Allee also said he saw a duty belt and a gun in the front seat of Schnelle’s vehicle.

“Once we were both seated in my patrol car, Schnelle immediately handed me his Law Enforcement Commission Card. I handed that card right back to Schnelle,” Allee stated. “I asked Schnelle where he works at and he advised he works at Hawk Point.”

Allee said he then requested Schnelle to consent to field sobriety tests.

“He said, ‘Listen, I am not going to do any tests,’” Allee stated. “Schnelle then walked closer to me and stated, ‘I live right down the street.’ I advised Schnelle I did not care where he lives. I asked Schnelle if he would perform any tests for me and he said, ‘No.’”

Allee also alleges he saw Schnelle “stumble” after exiting his patrol car and coupled with his refusal to take a sobriety test, arrested him for driving while intoxicated.

Schnelle had a similar experience in St. Louis County eight months prior.

On March 10, a Maryland Heights police officer stopped Schnelle and attempted to administer a breathalyzer. According to court documents, Schnelle refused in that instance as well, and similarly to Lincoln County, would later be charged with DWI several weeks after the initial arrest.

In both cases, the Department of Revenue issued an automatic suspension of Schnelle’s license after his refusal to submit to sobriety tests. In both cases though, Schnelle successfully filed a stay of sentencing. In the Maryland Heights case, he received 12 stays while only one has been granted so far in Lincoln County.

And while the appeals to keep his driver’s license and the separate DWI charges remain pending, Schnelle continues to be employed with the Hawk Point police department, albeit in a limited capacity.

Schnelle works no more than 30 hours a week per Hawk Point Chief of Police Joseph Kenney and describes him as a “great guy and a hard worker” and he is “innocent until proven guilty” regarding his legal matters.

Assistant Police Chief Tyler Schmieg hired Schnelle in April 2024, one month after his first arrest. He said Schnelle mentioned the Maryland Heights DWI during the interview process and that he has no complaints with his work performance.

“He has been a decorated officer for me,” Schmieg said “He is very proactive and very, very, very concerned about the drug problem in Lincoln County. As soon as I hired him, he hit the streets running and was getting quite a few drugs cases and drugs off the street … I’ve gotten nothing but praises from the community on him because he is out in our businesses talking to our business owners and he is out making traffic stops.”

Schmieg confirmed Hawk Point Mayor Mark Seigler and the city’s insurance company notified him it was “preferred” Schnelle not drive a patrol car but was permitted to be in them.

With Hawk Point only having two patrol cars available, Schmieg said it’s not unusual for officers to double up and ride together. Schnelle declined to comment for this article citing pending court cases. Court records show he is represented by Travis Noble in Clayton.

He is scheduled to appear in Maryland Heights, June 9 for a disposition hearing on his first DWI charge and a July 1 hearing in Lincoln County for his initial appearance on the second.