Restraining order issued in Quinton’s fall case
Kelsi Poe has been released from the hospital.
Published Oct. 1, 2010
A Boone County Circuit Court judge ruled to extend a restraining order that prevents both Quinton’s Bar and Deli and Harpo’s from destroying security footage showing Kelsi Poe’s Sept. 4 fall.
Poe, 19, suffered face, neck and skull injuries after she fell from a staircase at Quinton’s shortly before 5 p.m. Sept. 4. She remained in critical condition at University Hospital for weeks after the incident, but Columbia Police Department spokeswoman Jessie Haden said Poe has been released from the hospital.
“With injuries of a serious nature like these, the recovery can be very lengthy,” Haden said. “We’d especially like to talk with her, and because of that, there’s no reason to move at lightning speed. We’re taking our time here.”
Haden said the department is still actively working on the case.
“We’re still investigating the incident,” Haden said. “Our investigation is not only dealing with Quinton’s, but also Harpo’s and any of her friends or people associated with her during the chain of events.”
Haden said CPD was able to recover footage from Quinton’s, but the tape from Harpo’s was unavailable.
“We’re still investigating why that is,” she said.
Haden said CPD would like to review all the tapes for various reasons.
“We were looking at the tapes to see whether or not foul play was involved, and it clearly shows there was none,” she said. “We also want to see who was in the business at the time, make sure we’ve identified and talked to everyone. We need to see who was drinking and what and how much.”
Poe’s attorney Ron Netemeyer said the original restraining order was obtained Sept. 17, and there is a hearing scheduled for Oct. 8 to discuss a permanent injunction.
“A restraining order is a temporary order from a judge to tell a respondent not to take a certain action until a full hearing is had,” Netemeyer said. “We’ll have a hearing with a judge for permanent action, but I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to come to a good agreement between parties.”
He said restraining orders are not uncommon in cases like this. Sometimes businesses tape over old surveillance footage as part of normal business practice. The restraining order will make sure he will have access to all the evidence in the case, Netemeyer said.
“We’re simply looking for evidence, not looking to implicate any person or any business,” Haden said. “We’re just looking to uncover the truth, and to do that we need as much information as we can get.”