Latest entries in Police Beat
Daily coverage of crime on the MU campus and across Columbia.
Nov. 19, 2009
Citizens Police Review Board has first meeting
The Columbia Citizens Police Review Board met for the first time on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming year and to vote on a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.
The board unanimously voted Ellen LoCurto-Martinez as Chairwoman of the board and James Martin as Vice Chairman. Prior to being on the Review Board, Martinez was on the Citizens' Oversight Committee. The tasks of that committee are completed now, Martinez said.
Martin said he is grateful to be voted Vice Chair of the board. “I am glad people have enough confidence in me to vote me as vice chair,” Martin said. “This is going to be a wonderful group to work with.”
Columbia Police Department Chief Kenneth Burton and Lt. Lloyd Simmons from the Professional Standards Unit were also present at the meeting to assist board members with their upcoming training in law enforcement and internal affairs.
“It’s just an organizational meeting and I wanted to offer my help,” Burton said. “I am very sensitive to the fact that (the board) needs to be a separate body.”
The board planned to have meet on Dec. 5 and Dec. 12 for training on law enforcement internal affairs and excessive force topics.
Martinez said she is very honored and privileged to be voted chairwoman of the board and said there is a lot of work to be done before Jan 1., when the board begins taking complaints.
“It’s going to be a lot of work but it’s necessary work,” Martinez said. “We can’t do our job unless we’re trained.”
Rex Campbell, a sociologist of Columbia and also a former Citizens Oversight Committee member spoke to the board about the history of the idea of the review board and to offer suggestions on their training.
“When I address a group like this, I don’t know whether to say congratulations or condolences,” Campbell said. “I think what you will do will make a great contribution to the city of Columbia.”
The board also held a public comment portion of the meeting, where Columbia attorney David Tyson Smith addressed the importance of the board being independent from the police department.
“You have to be careful that you are maintaining your independence and there is a perception of independence in everything you do,” Smith said.
Crash on intersection of College and Stadium
MUPD officers were dispatched at 2:18 p.m. to the intersection of Stadium and College Ave on a report of a four car crash, MUPD Sgt. Alan Fish said.
Fish said a vehicle going southbound on College Avenue when it swerved into the northbound lane, hitting another car. The collision resulted in two more crashes in the intersection, including a Central Concrete truck that was about to turn left onto College Ave. The scene was cleared at 3:22 p.m. and three of the four vehicles were towed, Fish said.
Adam Craig, the driver of the first vehicle, was given two citations for a steady red light violation and another for colliding with a motor vehicle, Fish said.
Fish also said no drugs or alcohol are suspected to be involved but he didn't know if any MU students were in the crash.
There were no injuries aside from minor bruising from the seat belt on Craig, Fish said.
Nov. 16, 2009
Fire department prepares for holiday season
There have been 90 fires in Columbia this year, according to the Columbia Fire Department. This number counts everything from stove top fires to house fires, but this number comes before the holidays, a season wrought with flames due to festivities.
“The real threat this holiday season is the unattended fires,” CFD spokesman Steven Patt said. “Fires do increase during the holiday period due to many reasons.”
Cooking fires left unattended are the biggest due to the increased cooking and activity around Thanksgiving and Christmas, Patt said. He also said even fireplaces and wood burning stoves can become dangerous if left unattended. Space heaters left unattended and leaving combustibles near the space heaters can also be as much of a hazard as the cooking fires, Patt said.
“The biggest thing we can tell people is to pay attention,” Patt said. “It can happen if you step away, even for just a second.”
Patt also said the Columbia Fire Department is getting the community involved with fire prevention this year with what they call the "Red Wreath Challenge." The firehouse hangs a wreath on the front door with all red bulbs. Every time there is a home fire within the community the firehouse changes one of the bulbs to white, Patt said.
“Our challenge to the community is to keep the bulbs red,” Patt said.
Patt also said information and tips on how to prevent house fires are always available on the Columbia Fire Department’s Web site. The CFD will soon be issuing news releases within the week and next month to explain ways to keep people’s houses safe during the holiday season.
“Today is the day to test your smoke alarm,” Patt said. “Test it now, make sure that it works so that in the event of a fire you’ll have an early warning to that fire.”
Nov. 12, 2009
Sixth suspect arrested in Mohler sexual abuse case
A sixth suspect has been arrested by the Missouri State Highway Patrol in connection to the Mohler family child sexual abuse case, a Highway Patrol news release stated.
The suspect is identified as Larry Kidd, 55, of Kansas City, the news release stated. Kidd was arrested for rape of a child less than 14 years old. According to the news release, Kidd was identified as an associate of the Mohler family and was apprehended without incident in Jackson County.
He was being transported to Lafayette County Jail at the time the news release was posted.
The news release also stated as a result of a news conference held Wednesday, further information has been developed that has resulted in the identification of additional victims in the case.
Homicide suspect free on bail
Johnny Wright is free on bond after family members put up $10,000 in case on Friday, stated a post by the Columbia Daily-Tribune.
Wright is charged with the 1976 disappearance of Columbia waitress Rebbecca Doisy.
See the Columbia Tribune for the whole story.
The bond was 10 percent of the total bond of $100,000 which was set in 1985 when the Boone County Sheriff's Department filed the murder charge.
Nov. 10, 2009
Columbia resident arrested on drug charges, resisting arrest
The Boone County Sheriff’s Department, in cooperation with the Columbia Police Department, arrested a Columbia resident on drug charges Monday, a Sheriff’s department news release stated.
The arrest followed an investigation into suspected drug activity at Motel 6 West. Deputies observed a male carrying what looked like a packaged controlled substance.
The suspect fled on foot when contacted by officers. A brief struggle ensued before the suspect was taken into custody, the news release stated.
Nalenzar L. Edwards, 41, was found in possession of a quantity of heroin worth approximately $8,000, a quantity of marijuana and currency totaling more than $1,700, the news release stated.
Edwards was arrested for one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, one count of resisting arrest and possession of less than 35 grams of marijuana, the news release stated.
Highway patrol announces HEAT traffic enforcement results
The superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Col. James F. Keathley, announced the results for the cooperative High Enforcement Action Team effort, a highway patrol news release stated.
Seventeen law enforcement agencies provided additional enforcement on I-70 from 6 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 23 to 6 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Law enforcement agencies made a total of 1,191 traffic stops and found 1,335 violations, including 888 speed violations, the news release stated.
The Columbia Police and Boone County Sheriff’s Departments were among the 17 agencies that participated in HEAT.
“All 17 police agencies involved in the High Enforcement Action Team effort should be recognized,” Keathley said in the news release. “This joint effort helped to remind drivers on Interstate 70 of the importance of obeying all traffic laws. I wish to express my sincerest thanks to all of the departments that participated. “
Boone County officers respond to shots fired
On Sunday, deputies were dispatched to disturbance report and shots fired at a residence in the 1400 block of Rebel Drive, stated a news release from the Boone County Sheriff's Department.
Deputies arrived and two bullet holes were located in a residence, the news release stated. The suspect responsible for the shots fired had left the scene.
Four subjects were detained for questioning by the Sheriff's department and no arrests have been made, the news release stated. The investigation is ongoing.
Man arrested in Tennesee for Columbia shooting
William D. McNeary was arrested in Knoxville, Tenn. on Oct. 30 for criminal impersonation and drug charges.
According to Columbia Police Department spokeswoman Jessie Haden, McNeary was in the rear passenger side of a vehicle stopped for speed and equipment violations. He was the only passenger who did not initially comply with the officer’s instructions.
“They asked him his name,” Haden said. “He gave them a couple of false names.”
Haden said according to Tennessee state law, giving false names is a misdemeanor offense that carries a $1,000 bond.
Haden said officers found crack cocaine in the vehicle, also a misdemeanor offense that carries a $1,000 bond. Additionally, a loaded .40 caliber handgun was found in the vehicle. In Tennessee, that is a felony that carries a $5,000 bond.
Haden said McNeary was also arrested for a July 31 shooting that occurred at 115 Benton St. in Columbia at 3:30 p.m. The victim was a 15-year-old male.
“He was shot in the hand and the leg,” Haden said of the victim.
The injury to the leg was more substantial than the injury to the hand, Haden said.
Haden said the motive is still unclear. The victim was able to accurately indentify McNeary as the shooter.
Haden said McNeary used a .45 caliber handgun, which is not the same gun that was found with him when he was arrested in Tennessee.
“He’ll have to dispose of his charges in Tennessee before he’s extradited,” Haden said.
McNeary is being held in the Knox County Detention Center.
Haden said it could be a while before McNeary is extradited to Missouri. She said she could not give an accurate estimate because there are many variables in the case.
Nov. 6, 2009
Public defender sends message through song
As The Maneater reported in an article in Friday’s issue, the Missouri Public Defender System is experiencing a rise in caseloads that is overworking many defenders. Tony Manansala, a public defender in Columbia, is as vocal as anyone when it comes to the current debacle.
In fact, Manansala has even gone as far as to write a song about it. To the tune of Billy Joel’s song "The Entertainer”, Manansala sings and strums his own song entitled “Public Defender”.
Give it a listen as Manansala describes life as a public defender, the constitutional significance of indigent legal representation and the current plight of public defenders in Missouri. The song is both informative and catchy and the full version can be heard by using the bottom player on the Web site.
