EDUrain founder Bryon Pierson Jr. picked up new criminal charges related to his arrest following an October incident.
New charges include two 2nd Degree Felony Assault charges, one a Class D and the other a Class B (because of ‘Special Victim’ status) related to an alleged assault on police officers responding to the disturbance.
He also picked up a number of municipal ordinance violations, including resisting arrest, trespassing, and peace disturbance – all related to the same incident.
Pierson is out on bond and his next court appearance is set for December 11th… which will be the initial appearance on the ordinance violations. A hearing on the felony charges is set for December 17th.
Pierson was initially charged with 3rd Degree Assault, a Class E Felony, following an alleged attack that sent two police officers and another startup founder to the hospital from a Founders Lounge event in St. Louis’s Cortex district.
Witnesses report that Pierson, who had been previously banned from the event, appeared at the weekly gathering at Aloft St. Louis Cortex. According to police statements, the incident began when Pierson allegedly became upset at being recorded on a phone, leading to a physical altercation where he allegedly threw, choked, and attacked a fellow startup founder.
Witnesses tell bizblip multiple bystanders reportedly restrained Pierson, who is a former collegiate wrestler, likely preventing more serious harm. The victim sustained minor injuries, while responding officers suffered more severe injuries during the arrest.
Event organizers have announced enhanced security measures in response. “Moving forward, we are implementing enhanced measures to prevent such incidents from reoccurring,” stated Christian Johnson, Founders Lounge organizer, on LinkedIn.
Background:
The EDUrain platform helps students navigate the process of finding and renting housing both on and off campus. Founded in Nov. 2017 in St. Louis, MO, with Pierson and co-founders Aaron Zheng and Adam Knox-Warshaw being the only three full time employees. They assembled a team of up to 15 part time contractors and interns. Prior to the TechStars infusion, Pierson says he’s raised $155,000 from a variety of sources, including FF&F. EDURain participated in, or has been helped by, the Skandalaris Center, St. Louis Regional Chamber, Impact Ventures, Balsa Foundation, ITEN, Olin School of Business, I-Corps., SLU Research, Spark! and Maryville University.
The company was accepted into the 2023 Techstars Tulsa cohort Pierson says he picked up $120,000 in the process.
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