Lone officer interrupts strong-armed robbery
Published Dec. 8, 2006
A Columbia police officer believed he was breaking up a verbal argument on the 1100 block of East Broadway early Tuesday morning. Instead, the officer interrupted a strong-arm robbery while it was still in progress.
According to a Columbia Police Department news release, the officer happened upon the robbery around 1:35 a.m. and arrested three men on suspicion of attempted second-degree robbery.
The men are accused of attempting to rob a 21-year-old male Columbia resident.
Two of the suspects, Emanuel Briscoe Jr., 23, and Billy Jackson Jr., 22, are also Columbia residents.
The third suspect, Jimmy Jackson, 22, is a resident of Augusta, Ark.
Briscoe was also charged with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.
Billy Jackson was still under supervised probation for a previous conviction at press time.
Columbia police Sgt. Barbara Buck declined to release the name of the arresting officer.
She said the officer was on duty patrolling the downtown area in a vehicle when he noticed the disturbance. At the time, the officer was alone.
"He heard them talking and acting suspicious," Buck said. "He went to investigate. As he approached, it was a physical altercation."
All three suspects were taken to Boone County Jail, and each was held on $20,000 bond.
Buck said the officer called for backup at some point during his approach.
The victim was slightly injured in the holdup but did not require medical attention.
Jimmy Jackson was still being held in Boone County Jail at press time. Billy Jackson posted bond and was released Wednesday at approximately 8:20 p.m. Briscoe posted bond late Thursday night.