Latest entries in Police Beat
Daily coverage of crime on the MU campus and across Columbia.
March 18, 2010
CPD arrests second suspect in a shooting
The Columbia Police Department arrested a second suspect yesterday linked to a shooting that happened last Thursday, a CPD news release stated.
Police officers responded at about 2 a.m. last Thursday to 904 Vandiver Drive in response to a shots fired call, the news release stated. On Tuesday, CPD issued a release with information about the identity of the suspect in the shooting, Anthony J. Tunstall. The suspect had a warrant for arrest with a $100,000 bond for unlawful use of a weapon. Tunstall has not yet been arrested, the news release stated.
CPD investigators arrested Ronsanto D. Cole yesterday for driving the vehicle in which Tunstall was a passenger, the news release stated. Cole was arrested for unlawful use of a weapon with a a to-be-set bond. Cole was transported to Boone County Jail.
The case is still under investigation, the news release stated. Anyone with information as to Tunstall's whereabouts is encouraged to call CPD or use Crime Stoppers.
March 15, 2010
MUPD investigating burglary at Mizzou Quads
A Mizzou Quads resident reported a burglary at his apartment on Saturday, according to the MU Police Department daily summary report.
MUPD Capt. Brian Weimer said the burglary occurred between 9 and 10 p.m. on March 13. The victim was at his apartment during the burglary. His wallet and keys were stolen.
“The guy came home and someone started ringing his doorbell,” Weimer said.
The victim looked through the peephole and did not recognize the person, so he ignored them. The resident then took a shower.
“When he came out of the shower, he noticed that his wallet and keys were missing and the door was unlocked,” Weimer said. “He was sure he’d locked the door when he got home.”
Police responding to the event discovered an unlocked window in the back of the apartment, Weimer said. It is possible the suspect came in through the back window and left through the front door.
The victim thinks the burglar might be his former roommate, Weimer said.
MUPD has not seen a recent increase in burglaries in campus housing.
Even though the number of burglaries has not gone up significantly, Weimer still suggested precautions students could take to keep their property safe.
“Always make sure that you lock your doors and windows, even when you’re at home,” he said.
March 7, 2010
CPD investigates discovery of human skeleton
The Columbia Police Department is investigating a human skeleton discovered by a 13-year-old at about 10:30 a.m. Friday.
According to a CPD news release, the 13-year-old found the skeleton in a wooded location, west of Roger I. Wilson Memorial Drive in Columbia. The teenager told an adult, who called CPD and officers cleared the scene at about 5 p.m.
Police believe the skeleton to be that of an adult; it had been in the location where it was found for at least a few months, the news release stated. The skeleton will be examined Monday at the Boone County Medical Examiner's Office.
March 5, 2010
Malfunction of red light cameras on Stadium and Providence
Red light cameras on Stadium Blvd and Providence Road have experienced a possible sensor malfunction, the Columbia Police Department's Web site stated.
Drivers do not have to worry about being ticketed if the camera light flashes when the traffic light is green, the Web site stated. The possible malfunction will be inspected March 8 when a representative is sent to the location.
CPD's site stated that no citations will be given unless there is a clear red light violation.
March 1, 2010
CPD shoots two dogs in drug raid
Columbia Police Department officers shot two dogs while serving a warrant for drug charges, CPD spokeswoman Jessie Haden said in an e-mail.
CPD served the warrant at about 8:30 p.m. Feb. 11 and arrested Jonathan Whitworth. He has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, possession of drug paraphernalia and drug possession, Haden said in the e-mail. Whitworth's wife and child were in the residence at the time of the arrest.
Haden said officers are sometimes forced to shoot animals that are putting officers or other people in danger of physical injury.
"It's not preemptive; that wouldn't be appropriate," Haden said in the e-mail. "It's reactive."
People often restrain their dogs or put them in another room when officers are present, Haden said. When officers came to Whitworth's residence, they knocked loudly three times and announced themselves twice. Haden said not much time transpired before officers entered the home, but it was long enough for the residents to grab the dogs and redirect them or move them out of the way.
A multitude of factors determine when a warrant is served, and Haden said a safe and successful execution of the warrant is the primary concern.
CPD wasn't able to serve the warrant as quickly as they would have liked, mostly due to staffing issues, Haden said in the e-mail.
"We'd never serve a warrant expecting to discover a misdemeanor amount of drugs," Haden said in the e-mail. "That would be a complete waste of time and money. We obtained the warrant because there was good evidence that Whitworth was selling a substantial amount of drugs."
Haden also said if CPD had been able to serve the warrant sooner, arresting officers would have been able to find more drugs.
"It's as frustrating to us as it is to citizens who wonder why resources are given to an operation that seemingly turns up so little," Haden said in the e-mail.
Feb. 26, 2010
MUPD investigates vandalism outside of Black Culture Center
Students walk over cotton balls strewn across the sidewalk Friday afternoon in front of the Black Culture Center. The vandalism, which occurred between 1:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday morning, is believed by some to be a racially motivated.
The MU Police Department is investigating a case of vandalism outside the Black Culture Center on Friday.
Cotton balls were scattered through the bushes and on the grass in front of the center. MUPD Capt. Brian Weimer said it is believed to have occurred sometime between 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. Friday morning. The incident was reported to MUPD around 10 a.m.
A witness told police there were two individuals running from the area around the time the incident occurred. Weimer said the report is classified as vandalism but if it appears to be racially motivated, Weimer said it can fall under the category of a hate crime.
"We need to get some more information before we can do that," Weimer said. "A hate crime is simply an enhancement to a punishment."
The report will be written to the supervisor for approval later today, Weimer said. No arrests have been made at this time.
Feb. 16, 2010
CPOA petition to close records denied
Judge Kevin Crane ruled to deny the Columbia Police Officers Association's petition to file an injunction on Tuesday.The injunction was to withhold any public records regarding police misconduct complaints.
The hearing was held at the Boone County Courthouse Tuesday morning. Attorney Scott Jansen represented CPOA while City Attorney Cavanaugh Noce represented the city of Columbia. Jean Maneke, attorney for the Columbia Daily-Tribune was also present during the hearing.
Crane said he understood CPOA's argument but could not see any way around the Sunshine Law.
Visit The Maneater for additional coverage of this topic.
Feb. 12, 2010
MUPD increases patrol for intoxicated drivers
The MU Police Department plans to have additional officers patrolling for intoxicated drivers beginning Friday evening, an MUPD news release stated.
The saturation will start Friday at 11 p.m. and end at 3 a.m. Saturday morning, the news release stated.
According to the news release, MUPD, along with other campus groups, promotes responsible drinking through a variety of activities and programs throughout the year.
The saturation was funded by the Missouri Department of Transportation Highway Safety Division, the news release stated.
Feb. 2, 2010
Exonerated prisoners to speak at MU
Three men who spent time in prison for murders they did not commit will speak at the Neff Hall Auditorium at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow.
The event is called Focus on Wrongful Convictions and is sponsored by the Midwestern Innocence Project, a non-profit organization that provides legal and investigative services to innocent people in prison, as stated on MIP’s Web site.
The speakers are Josh Kezer, of Columbia, Dennis Fritz and Darryl Burton. They spent a collective 52 years in prison, according to the MIP.
The invitation states there is a suggested donation of $10 per visitor but MU students are free.
Jan. 29, 2010
Red light cameras to be installed at two more locations
Red light cameras are being installed at two more intersections in Columbia this weekend, a Columbia Police Department news release stated.
Cameras will be installed at the intersections of Stadium and Forum Boulevard and Stadium and Providence Road. Northbound traffic will be monitored at Stadium and Forum, the news release stated. Two cameras will be installed at Stadium and Providence to monitor both directions of traffic.
According to the news release, CPD does not know exactly when the installation will be complete but expects the cameras to be functional sometime over the weekend.
