Author: KMIZ

Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Charges have been filed against the man involved in an hours-long standoff at Stephens Lake Park on Monday.

Tre’Shon Terrell Smith, of Columbia, is charged with third-degree assault of a special victim, fourth-degree assault, first- and second-degree property damage and resisting arrest. Two of the charges are felonies.

The probable cause statement says multiple calls came in reporting a man was in the park with a knife and alcohol Monday afternoon. A drone unit with the Columbia Police Department saw multiple injuries on the man and saw him with a knife.

Probable cause statementDownload

The Columbia Police Department urged the public to avoid Stephens Lake Park during the response.

“Please avoid Stephens Lake Park! Columbia Police are currently responding to an active incident. We’re asking the public to avoid the area while the incident unfolds,” CPD wrote in a social media post.

A CPD spokesman said police were sent to the park at about 2:20 p.m. for a call of a suicidal person. The man had a knife and had threatened “suicide by cop.”

Court documents say Smith was trying to harm himself and destroy property at Stephens Lake Park. Officers used a stun gun to take him into custody. The documents say he also destroyed several picnic tables at the park.

An ABC 17 News reporter saw police on scene Monday putting Smith in handcuffs just before 7 p.m.

Officer Benjamin Ludwig wrote in the probable cause statement that he was responsible for taking Smith to University Hospital’s psychiatric center.

Smith allegedly damaged Ludwig’s police car during the drive by kicking it and causing more than $750 in damage. Ludwig said Smith also threatened to locate and harm him, Officer Matthew Kempfer and Kempfer’s family.

Ludwig also said he observed Smith make statements to multiple officers about how he would locate them and their families on social media and how he wished to sexually assault their partners.

Smith allegedly attacked Kempfer and hospital employees while being taken to receive treatment at University Hospital. Documents say he cut Kempfer and bit a hospital employee.

Criminal complaintDownload

Smith remained at the University of Missouri Psychiatric Center on Tuesday morning. A judge set bond at $10,000. The state sought a $25,000 bond, citing the extension resources used in taking Smith into custody and the aggression he showed to first responders. The bond memo also says he tried to escape custody multiple times.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Increases in rent and medical costs drove Midwest inflation in July compared to the year before, but prices for food and energy fell for the month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Year-over-year inflation in the Midwest, including Missouri, was up 2.6% in July, the bureau stated in a news release Tuesday. That increase was driven largely by a 5.1% increase in home ownership costs, a 3.6% increase in medical costs and a 5% increase in rent.

Those increases were balanced by falling food and energy prices that pegged inflation at just 0.2% compared to June. Natural gas and gasoline prices decreased, while electricity prices were up in July, according to the release.

Food prices were down 0.2% compared to June. Grocery prices fell 0.5% while food consumed away from home increased 0.3%.

Energy and food prices were all higher compared to last year, with natural gas prices rising 14.6% during that time.

The Midwest numbers were similar to those reported nationally, with prices up 0.2% compared to June and 2.7% compared to the year before.

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Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia/Boone County chapter of Crimestoppers typically offers rewards in cases involving warrants and drugs. However, the organization has a role in helping solve the city’s unsolved homicides, too.

Crimestoppers board president and former Boone County Sheriff’s Office deputy John Fields said the local chapter was founded in 1980. Fields estimates the local chapter’s work has helped lead to over 250 arrests.

The organization helps law enforcement by providing money for information leading to felony arrests.

Fields said that most of the tips Crimestoppers receives concerns warrants and drug cases, but there’s a large push for information on unsolved homicides. He estimates the organization has helped solve one or two homicides over the years.

“It’s unfortunate that not too many people give information on homicides, and that’s what we want,” Fields said. “We’re actively working with some other victims of homicides right now … we know that through working with the mothers of some of these victims of homicides that there were witnesses. And we would love for these witnesses to come forward and give these mothers some closure.”

According to the Columbia Police Department, 16 unsolved homicide cases with 18 victims dating back to 1985 remain unsolved. Those cases include Edmond ‘Ricky’ Randolph Jr., who was killed on June 25, 2016, on Leeway Drive in northeast Columbia.

Authorities investigate the homicide of Edmond ‘Ricky’ Randolph Jr. on June 25, 2016, on Leeway Drive in Columbia, Mo.

Police say the 25-year-old was shot to death inside an apartment. No arrests have been made in the case.

Columbia Police say Crimestoppers is a great tool, but in a homicide case, police say it’s helpful if witnesses contact police directly.

“Crimestoppers is a great tool for remaining anonymous,” CPD Lt. Matt Gremore said. “There’s a time and a place for that in an unsolved homicide investigation. What I really need to have is for someone to come forward to the police department that has that information firsthand. They can start with Crimestoppers to provide that.”

Fields said that throughout the years, Crimestoppers has received several tips on this case. Gremore said the last tip Crimestoppers received on the Randolph case was in 2021.

Edmond ‘Ricky’ Randolph Jr., date unknown (Credit: Nicole Craig)

More than a year after Randolph’s murder, Columbia/Boone County Crimestoppers amended its policy to accept personal donations in addition to the standard reward money. This was changed due to an anonymous individual wishing to donate $5,000 for any tip leading to the arrest of Randolph’s killer.

“This happened right before I started with Crimestoppers, but I don’t think we had too many tips,” Fields said. “We didn’t get anybody to come forward.”

Since 2017, Fields said, the reward for Randolph’s case has dropped back down to the standard number — $2,500.

Fields said the organization is funded through private donations.

“Our model is, if you see something, say something because we know you know something, just get paid for what you know,” Fields said.

Fields said tipsters are never asked for their name or phone number, but are assigned a number. Individuals are encouraged to call back at a later time with their number to see if their tip led to an arrest, and they can collect a reward.

“There’s a lot of people that call in information, but unfortunately, a lot of them don’t call back to get the reward,” Fields said. “So we’ve had several cases that people have called in to give us information on, that have led to an arrest.”

Watch the latest “Mid-Missouri’s Cold Case Files: The Case of Edmond ‘Ricky’ Randolph Jr.” at 10 p.m. Thursday on ABC 17 News.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Several people could get dropped from the lawsuit filed by the family of former University of Missouri student Riley Strain at a court hearing Tuesday.

Strain’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Delta Chi fraternity in March, claiming the fraternity did not follow safety protocols during a March 2024 fraternity “formal” event in Nashville that led to Strain’s death. The lawsuit also claimed Strain’s fraternity brothers did not accompany him back to the hotel when he was kicked out of a bar and didn’t check on him until later.

Jacob Lewis, the family’s attorney, argued that both the national Delta Chi organization and Strain’s fraternity brothers were obligated to both monitor the event and help Strain.

“This was a foreseeable act, particularly for a fraternity that is well aware of the consequences of alcohol, Lewis said. “If you put somebody in a position that they now need help because of your actions, you have taken upon yourself a duty.”

Lewis added that Delta Chi has several training and safety videos as well as an online member portal, so the organization would be able to stay in touch with fraternity activities.

“They regularly communicate with people through social media apps they have, though the portal that they have, they can exert an area of control that would not have been possible even 30 or 40 years ago,” Lewis said.

The defense argued that the fraternity was not responsible for Strain’s actions, adding that it’s unreasonable to expect the organization to closely monitor the events of more than 100 local fraternities across the nation.

“The allegations don’t involve forced alcohol consumption, there’s no allegations that Mr. Strain had a bottle of vodka taped to his hand, but this was free and voluntary intoxication by someone who could legally purchase and consume his own alcohol,” defense attorney Clayton Tompson said. “National organizations do not have sufficient resources to monitor activities and protocols.”

Since its filing, numerous defendants have requested that Devine remove them from the lawsuit. Attorneys agreed on dismissing nine fraternity members earlier this month.

Some attorneys during Tuesday’s hearing argued that the suit was filed in the wrong state, arguing that the core events of Strain’s death happened across state lines.

“We’re going to be dealing with the EMS, police officers, investigators,” said Robert Wulff, who is the defense attorney for one of the fraternity members. “Any witnesses that may come forward in future discussions, all of that is going to be taking place in Tennessee.”

Lewis argued Missouri is the correct state to hold the trial since the event was planned and alcohol was bought at the Delta Chi house. This includes Jell-O shots that were allegedly made, along with transportation being organized to bus members from the home to Nashville.

“Riley Strain was offered and did consume jello shots, he did those things, we claim, the entire trip across Missouri,” Lewis said.

Strain went missing on March 8, 2024, after being kicked out of Luke’s Bridge 32 bar on Broadway and 3rd Avenue just before 10 p.m. Police found his body in the Cumberland River on March 22, 2024. Strain’s death was ruled a drowning, with a toxicology report also finding alcohol and other substances in his system.

Boone County Judge Joshua Devine did not make any decisions Tuesday, adding that there was “a lot to consider.”

Devine did grant the defense attorneys a week to file additional suggestions for their motions, which are due on Tuesday, Aug. 19.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City Police Department detective will not be allowed to testify at a murder trial about what the suspect’s cellphone said about his whereabouts the day of the crime.

The defense for Sergio Sayles, 39, has filed the motion to exclude the detective’s testimony. A hearing was held on Tuesday morning.

Sayles was charged in 2023 with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, tampering with evidence, misdemeanor second-degree stalking and misdemeanor second-degree harassment. Sayles is accused of killing Jasmine King in April 2023. Police found King dead from stab wounds to her head, face, neck, torso and back in her home in the 300 block of West Ashley Street in Jefferson City.

Prosecutors originally sought the death penalty, but in April, Sayles waived his right to a jury trial in exchange for the state dropping the death penalty.

According to online court records, Sayles’ defense lawyer filed multiple motions in that same month:

Motion to suppress statements Sayles made during interrogations after he requested an attorney.

Motion to exclude cellphone testimony.

Motion to dismiss the indictment against Sayles based on prosecutorial misconduct during grand jury proceedings.

Motion to dismiss and for other sanctions for destroying Sayles’ car.

Motion for disclosure of plea agreement and/or inducements to prosecution witnesses.

The exclusion of cellphone testimony was sustained; the state will call another witness to replace what was previously going to be a Jefferson City Police Department detective’s testimony regarding cell location.

Arguments for the other motions were ongoing Tuesday morning.

A bench trial is set for 9 a.m. Nov. 3 in the Boone County Courthouse in front of Judge Brouck Jacobs.

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Matthew Sanders

President Donald Trump on Monday pledged to clean up crime in the nation’s capital, announcing the federal takeover of Washington, D.C., police and the activation of the National Guard.

Trump said one of the first moves will be to clear homeless encampments.

Critics pointed out lower violent crime numbers in official statistics and said the president’s actions were not necessary.

Do you support activating the National Guard in D.C.? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Sedalia man was charged in Pettis County with a pair of felonies and a misdemeanor after he led law enforcement on a chase on Saturday.

Gunner Saulbeamer was charged with aggravated fleeing, first-degree assault and misdemeanor fourth-degree assault. He is being held at the Pettis County Jail on a $25,000 bond. An arraignment was held on Monday and he appeared by video from the jail. A counsel status hearing was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26.

On Saturday, a Sedalia police officer saw a green Kia Soul drive not stop for a stop sign, the officer turned on his sirens and a chase ensued throughout the city, the probable cause statement says. The chase exceeded 90 miles per hour near West Main Street, Grand Avenue and Kentucky Avenue, the statement says.

Spike strips were used and popped one of the tires on the vehicle, by the chase continued. The statement says deputies picked up the chase around near Yeater Road and the Kia crashed into a dirt mound near Oak Grove Lane. Saulbeamer ran away from the vehicle, but was quickly caught, the statement indicates. He then spit on an officer after he was arrested, court documents say.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City man was charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor after an exchange while he was pulled over turned into him getting pepper sprayed.

Patrick Allen, 26, was charged with resisting arrest, armed criminal action and misdemeanor obstructing government operations. He is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond.

The probable cause statement says Allen told police he would not show up for court. An arraignment was held on Monday and Allen appeared by video from the jail, where he pleaded not guilty. A counsel status hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday.

The statement says at 4 a.m. Sunday, a police officer saw a red Jeep heading south onto Jackson Street with no front-mounted license plate. The officer tried to see the back plate, but was not able to tell if there was a license plate, court documents say.

Allen pulled the Jeep over on High Street and the officer turned right onto McCarty Street to see if Allen would move the Jeep once his vehicle was out of sight, the statement says. The officer wrote that he did this because he thought the behavior was “suspicious.”

The Jeep left again and the officer started a traffic stop because he could not see a plate, the statement says. The officer wrote the plate appeared to be a fake Illinois temp tag, court documents say.

The officer allegedly told Allen that he stopped him because he wasn’t able to see his plates and thought his driving was “evasive,” the statement says.

Allen allegedly said “no way,” denied to give the officer his proof of insurance when asked, demanded to see a supervisor and rolled up his window, court documents say.

More officers arrived and Allen still refused to get him an ID or proof of insurance, the statement says. The situation escalated to the point where police broke the Jeep’s driver side window and used pepper spray, the statement says.

Allen then backed into the first officer’s patrol vehicle before ramming into a second vehicle, where the officer’s supervisor was seated, the statement says. Three officers suffered minor injuries, court documents say.

Allen then tried to get away and almost hit two more officers, the statement says. He was eventually arrested after he got out of the vehicle, the statement says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Lake Ozark police had to use a stun gun and pepper spray to subdue a man accused of kicking an officer and touching film equipment that was not his.

Justin Carr, of Carthage, Missouri, was charged on Saturday in Miller County with third-degree attempted assault. Court filings show that he posted a $10,000 bond. A court date is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10.

The probable cause statement says Lake Ozark police officers were in the 1200 block of Bagnell Dam Boulevard for an unrelated call when a member of a film production company told Carr to not touch their film equipment and to step away. Police wrote that Carr appeared to be drunk.

He was allegedly asked several times to step away, but “escalated” the situation and police used a stun gun to try to subdue him, the statement says. An officer had scrapes and cuts on his hand from trying to arrest Carr, the statement says.

Carr then allegedly wished death on the officer and his family before kicking the cop in his chest while he was being put in the back of the patrol car, the statement says. Carr started to kick the back window and cage of the vehicle and police had to use pepper spray to get him to stop, the statement says.  

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Haley Swaino

COLE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man who was released from federal custody this summer after his sentence was commuted earlier this year by then-President Joe Biden is now in the Cole County Jail.

Malcolm Redmon, 42, is being held at the jail without bond on a U.S. Marshal hold, jail records indicate. Redmon appeared on the Boone County Jail’s roster on Friday evening. Capt. Brian Leer, of the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, wrote in an email that Redmon was picked up from the Boone County Jail Monday morning.

He was being held there on a federal detainer based probation, according to previous reporting, though the violation has not been stated by officials. Leer said the Columbia Police Department took Redmon into custody. CPD told ABC 17 News on Monday it could not provide additional details surrounding Redmon’s arrest.

An initial appearance on revocation proceedings and preliminary revocation hearing is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. Wednesday at the U.S. District Court.

Redmon was sentenced to 24 years in 2016 after pleading guilty to being involved in a cocaine-selling ring in Mid-Missouri, according to previous reporting. Redmon was one of 27 people arrested in 2014 throughout Missouri and Illinois. He was one of nearly 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug charges to have their sentence commuted by former President Biden.

He was released from federal custody a decade early on July 16, according to previous reporting.

Leer told ABC 17 News on Saturday afternoon the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri issued the warrant for Redmon’s recent arrest. The court’s office told ABC 17 News until he appears in court, no details can be shared.

Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr. ordered the public defender’s office to represent Redmon.

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