A look back at some of the civil and criminal cases involving Charles Lee "Cookie" Thornton, 52.

Dec. 17, 1999: Thornton files for bankruptcy, showing debts of $488,430.80. Parties making claims include the state Department of Revenue, Caterpillar Financial Services Corp. and the IRS, as well as $10,425 from state child support services.

May 2001: Thornton is convicted of 19 city violations in Kirkwood. He is fined $12,250.

June 23, 2001: Thornton is charged with assaulting Ken Yost, Kirkwood's public works director.

May 13, 2002: Thornton is convicted of the assault charge against Yost. He is also convicted of 26 ordinance violations, which include parking violations and improper storage of equipment. He is fined a total of $6,200.

Sept. 25, 2003: Thornton sues Kirkwood for malicious prosecution, arguing the city should pay him $12 million. A judge dismisses the case. He appeals to the state Supreme Court, which refuses to take the case and sends it to an appeals court.

Jan. 5, 2004: Thornton files a federal lawsuit against the Missouri Supreme Court for not taking his case. It is dismissed.

April 26, 2005: Missouri appeals court dismisses Thornton's lawsuit against Kirkwood.

May 18, 2006: Thornton interrupts a Kirkwood City Council meeting. He is arrested for disorderly conduct when he refuses to leave.

June 15, 2006: Thornton sets up a poster on an easel with a drawing of a donkey. He leads off with the words "jackass, jackass, jackass." He is arrested for disorderly conducted and is later fined $2,000 for the disorderly conduct citations.

Jan. 16, 2007: Thornton sues Kirkwood in St. Louis County court, accusing the city of "willfully and wrongfully" denying his right to speak at a public meeting. He seeks $15 million and asks the city not be notified before a court decision. He calls it, "Preliminary Injunction Without Notice." Two days later, he files a similar suit in federal court.

June 24, 2007: Thornton pickets outside PJ's Restaurant in Kirkwood. He struggles with owner Paul Cartier. Cartier falls and Thornton stamps on Cartier's leg until bystanders subdue him. Thornton is charged with misdemeanor assault. The criminal case was pending.

Oct. 10, 2007: A St. Louis County judge dismisses Thornton's free speech lawsuit.

Jan. 28, 2008: Thornton's federal lawsuit is dismissed.

Compiled by William C. Lhotka, Joe Mahr, David Hunn and Robert Patrick of the Post-Dispatch