Category: kmiz-local-news

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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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Pulaski County woman was charged with three misdemeanors after her children allegedly faced poor living conditions.

Aleah Gretch was charged with three counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. A criminal summons was issued on Friday. An initial court appearance is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 12.  

A social worker alleged that children were residing in unlivable conditions. Photographs allegedly showed “the residence with piles of garbage, insects, human feces, and other filthy conditions in every room of the residence,” the probable cause statement says.

Two of the children were interviewed at their school, and they allegedly told interviewers that they were told to lie about the state of their home.

Law enforcement went to the home, noticed a strong smell along with trash, feces and other debris all around the home’s floor and walls, the statement says. Children’s Division took custody of the children and brought them to their father’s residence, the statement says.

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Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City businessman is the fourth Republican to officially declare for the Sixth Senate District race next year.

Jake Vogel, president of Jefferson City Coca-Cola, wrote in a social media post Monday that he would seek the seat currently held by term-limited Republican Mike Bernsketter. The Sixth Senate District covers Jefferson City and the Lake of the Ozarks area and Moniteau County.

Vogel’s father, Carl Vogel, represented Cole County in the Missouri Senate for two terms after winning election in 2002.

Vogel plans to launch his campaign on Wednesday at the Coca-Cola warehouse in Jefferson City, according to his post.

Other Republicans who have formed campaign committees ahead of the August 2026 primary are Becky Ruth, state Rep. Rudy Veit and former Jefferson City Council member Derrick Spicer.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two men were charged after they allegedly assaulted two people at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia on Saturday.

Jonathan Burdette Sr., of Lincoln Missouri, was charged with third-degree assault, resisting arrest; while Devin Burdette, of Lincoln, was charged with third-degree assault. Mugshots were not immediately available and court dates have not been scheduled. Bonds were set for both men at $5,000.

The probable cause statements say troopers were called to the carnival area of the fair on Saturday and saw two men running east. Law enforcement stopped the men and learned from carnival staff that Devin Burdette allegedly punched a woman and a fight ensued, the statement says.

Jonathan Burdette Sr. allegedly punched a man in his head, the statement says. Both victims had injuries, court documents say.

Devin Burdette was arrested without incident, while Jonathan Burdette Sr. resisted arrest and threatened to fight officers, the statement says.

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Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Public Schools is still working toward the goal of having construction work finished next month at Ridgeway Elementary.

CPS approved a $100,000 contract with PlayPower LT Inc. for work to be done at the school during one of its meetings in May. The work began on May 13 and is expected to be completed by Sept. 15, according to the agreement.

Social media posts from the Ridgeway Elementary PTSA Outreach group show some parents are frustrated about ongoing work as the school year approaches.

Lyndsy Richardson has two children that attend the school and said she’s unhappy about the slow progress being made at the school and doesn’t feel progress is being made unless parents take initiative.

“We’ve had ongoing construction at Ridgeway for a year now…last year, the kids operated off of a playground that was probably a third of the playground just because we lost so much of it to the new bus loop,” Richardson said. “Now they have to walk through the bus loop to get to the other side, to play on the field, or to access the garden boxes.”

CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark told ABC 17 News via email Monday afternoon that there is ongoing construction at the school related to the installation of a bus loop near the playground area.

Baumstark also wrote a new set for the playground has been purchased, but wont be installed until September.

“There are other pieces of play equipment that are available until the additional new set is installed in a few weeks. We have some other project elements that are slated to be completed before the start of the school year. With construction, things have to happen in a certain order,” Baumstark said.

Chief Operating Officer Lazell Ofield said there aren’t any issues with the playground structure as it is, and children can safely play on it. He said the wrapping up on work this week and installing fences and coordinating with contractors on remaining site items.

Ofield also said the district is taking steps toward being more transparent.

“I have got an opportunity to meet with the parents at their PTA meetings to give them an update throughout this project and so we really want to make sure that we’re being transparent and making sure that we inform our families of the work that’s going on at their site,” Ofield said.

An email was sent out to parents regarding the timeline of the project on Monday around 7 p.m.

Richardson said in addition to better communication, she’d like to see better planning.

“Not having one construction company who may come in at the lowest bid that’s not always the right answer. Find somebody who’s going to do quality work and is going to do it effectively and efficiently,” Richardson said.

The Columbia Board of Education also approved the addition of 2-gas meter bollards, a playground gate and repairs to the existing retaining wall at the school.

Board members also unanimously approved a contract to replace the exterior doors at Rock Bridge High School and voted 5-1 to approve a student transfer policy. Board President John Lyman abstained from the vote.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boone County man who was previously sentenced to 11 years in prison was sentenced again after pleading guilty to a lower charge.

Charles Waddill pleaded guilty on Monday to second-degree involuntary manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in a death. He was sentenced to a year in jail and was given credit for time served.

Waddill previously pleaded guilty to first-degree involuntary manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident and evidence tampering in the 2019 killing of a pedestrian on Range Line Street in Columbia with his car. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison but appealed the decision in January 2022 in the Boone County Circuit Court.

Court records say Waddill’s conviction was overturned after he argued his counsel was ineffective.

A wrongful death lawsuit against Waddill and the company for which he was driving at the time of the crash was filed and quickly settled in January 2020.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man and a woman were charged on Monday after the former was accused of shooting at a home, while the latter was accused of tampering with evidence.

Marlon Meija-Fuentez was charged with first-degree assault, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. He is not listed on the Boone County Jail roster on Monday afternoon. A no-bond warrant was ordered.

Jacquelin Ramirez was charged with tampering with evidence in a felony prosecution. Court filings from Monday indicate she posted a $1,500 bond.

A probable cause statement says police were called at 7:02 p.m. Saturday to the 4400 block of Brown Station Road for a report of shots being fired. The victim allegedly told law enforcement that Ramirez’s husband had asked them to point a camera at the residence after allegations of infidelity occurred.

The victim saw someone from a Chevrolet Malibu with temp tags fire about two-to-four shots, the statement says. The home allegedly had damage from the shots being fired, police wrote. Ramirez allegedly told police that Meija-Fuentez shot at the home after she got into an ongoing feud with the victim after they gave video footage – of Meija-Fuentez at the home — to her husband, court documents say.

Another witness provided police with video evidence of the shooting, court documents say. In a second probable cause statement Ramirez allegedly told police she had a camera at the residence, but footage show the camera be moved to a different view before two shots were heard and a vehicle accelerates, the statement says. The camera view then moved back to where it was before, court documents say.

A Flock camera allegedly gave police a notification about the car with temp tags from Indiana driving toward the area about eight minutes before the shooting occurred, the statement says

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia Police Department cruiser was damaged while officers were at the scene of a previous crash Monday.

Police were called a little after 11 a.m. with a crash involving a concrete truck at Walnut Street and College Avenue. It’s not clear if anyone was hurt in the crash.

A tow truck clipped a CPD cruiser’s rear bumper as it was taking the concrete truck from the scene. A CPD spokesperson didn’t have information on Monday afternoon about the cost of the damage.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A California, Missouri, man was charged with several felonies after he led law enforcement on a chase on Sunday morning.

Stephen Curtner, 48, was charged on Monday in Callaway County with second-degree assault, misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, resisting arrest, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of first-degree property damage. He is being held at the Callaway County Jail without bond. A court date has not been scheduled.

The probable cause statement says Curtner was accused of driving with a missing child. The child’s mother allegedly reported the youth missing and in danger after Curtner did not bring the child home the night before, the statement says.

Jefferson City police found Curtner driving a Toyota and tried to conduct a traffic stop on Highway 54, but Curtner sped away at 115 miles per hour with the child in the truck, according to the probable cause statement.

After getting off and back on the highway, Curtner then allegedly drove his truck into oncoming traffic at Simon Boulevard in Holts Summit and crashed into a street sign, the statement says. Officers tried to arrest Curtner, but then he allegedly tried to back into law enforcement and crashed into patrol vehicles from the Jefferson City and Holts Summit police departments, the statement says.

Police eventually forced Curtner to stop and the child was found in the backseat, the statement says. Curtner allegedly tested positive for using methamphetamine and weed, court documents say.

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