Category: kmiz-local-news

Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No one was reported to be hurt after an early morning dock fire at the Lake of the Ozarks on Sunday.

According to Marine Trooper Dylan Green with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a fire broke out shortly after midnight at Dry Branch Cove. The cove is near the 4.5 mile marker of the lake’s main channel.

The Rocky Mount Fire Protection District said the blaze occurred on Ontario Road, in a social media post. The fire district said four watercraft were burning and all were total losses. The fire chief later confirmed to ABC 17 News that two boats and two jet skis were involved.

The Rocky Mount Fire Protection District responds to a dock fire at the Lake of the Ozarks’ Dry Branch Cove on Jun. 28, 2026. [Courtesy: Dylan Green]

Green said in a text message that the Lake Ozark Fire Protection District was also responding to the fire.

The cause was under investigation as of Sunday morning. RMFPD said a preliminary investigation revealed the believed cause to be a previous recreational fire that was not properly extinguished and reignited.

RMFPD Fire Chief Jonathan Trail said it appeared that a fire pit on the dock had embers that reignited when the wind blew in.

“It’s believed that it [the wind] rekindled the fire, pushed some embers out, likely onto the boat covers that were on the vessel on the dock,” Trail said.

He said there were people inside the home who were able to call emergency services once they realized the dock was ablaze.

“There were people present at the time of the fire, and I think that’s the biggest takeaway, is there were people inside the residence; they weren’t out on the dock,” Trail said. “But they were still awake, they were alert, and they discovered the fire and reported it as quickly as they could.”

Trail said it’s important to make sure that embers from a recreational fire are cool before leaving it.

“We need to make sure that not only is the fire out, but it’s cool. If the smoldering embers are allowed to continue to be hot, there’s always potential for re-ignition of unburned materials,” he said.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is cleaning up fuel in the water that spilled from both jet skis and one boat. Trail said the DNR will put out a device to soak up the petroleum, and the department will remove it once the sheen has disappeared from the water.

As for the watercraft, Trail said it’s likely a local recovery company will pull them out of the water and dispose of them.

Check back for updates.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The new Columbia Downtown Safety Ambassadors Program will soon publish a monthly incident report starting in mid-July that details incidents, along with statistics.

The District Executive Director Nickie Davis said the reports will be “extensive.”

The program has only been officially active for about a week and a half. The ambassadors have already de-escalated one situation, according to Davis.

“They helped de-escalate a bit of a larger fight that was happening down on Eighth or Seventh Street,” Davis said. “Our main goal is to keep those situations from becoming something that they would actually have to call the police for.”

The ambassadors are not law enforcement and can’t arrest anyone, but are there to prevent dangerous situations from happening.

Davis said that during training, before the official launch, an ambassador called 911 for an unresponsive person. The person was revived after EMS administered NARCAN and then taken to the hospital.

“They [the ambassador] got a reward for it already and just good work on their part for noticing and continuing to check on this person,” Davis said.

While patrolling, Davis said many people are happy to see the ambassadors, and some ask questions about city ordinances.

Five ambassadors walk in different zones around downtown Columbia from 4:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There’s also a full-time outreach coordinator.

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Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two women were seriously injured in an early Saturday crash in Miller County.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, a 21-year-old Jefferson City woman was driving a 2011 Ford Fiesta east on Highway 54 and went off the left side of the road around 2 a.m. The car flipped, crashing west of Storage Road.

The driver and passenger, a 20-year-old Union woman, were both taken to Lake Regional Hospital by ambulance with serious injuries. The report says neither were wearing a seatbelt. The vehicle was totaled.

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Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Camdenton man was seriously injured and arrested for a boat crash at the Lake of the Ozarks early Saturday morning.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, the 28-year-old was driving a 2024 Flagship Pontoon north in the Lake of the Ozarks Main Channel when he hit a dock walkway at the 17.5 mile marker shortly before 1:30 a.m.

According to the crash report, the man was under the influence of alcohol and drugs. An MSHP arrest report says Shawn O’Connor was arrested shortly after 1:30 a.m. on suspicion of boating while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, boating within 100 feet of a dock at greater than “No Wake” speed and operating a vessel in a reckless manner.

The man was taken to Lake Regional Hospital by ambulance with serious injuries, the boating incident report says. He was not wearing a flotation device. The pontoon had extensive damage.

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Jessica Hafner

RAIN FORECAST UPDATE:

Saturday has started off mostly dry, with overnight storms being the only precipitation so far, as more showers and storms slowly enter from the west. The outflow from this activity may inspire more storm chances later in the day, with a similar threat for gusty winds at most. Coverage is highly uncertain, but a washout is not expected, and there’s a good chance of dry time for evening firework displays. Monitor the forecast for updates.

The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team has issued a Weather Alert Day for the potential of dangerous heat through Saturday. All of this week will present a risk of dangerous heat. Heat indexes will largely range from 98-103 degrees.

Upper-level high pressure has developed, pushing the jet stream northward. A steady supply of Gulf moisture will keep our humidity high.

This strong high-pressure system looks to stick around across the southeast through the weekend keeping temperatures locked in the 90s. Gulf moisture will make the air feel very stagnant and thick with dew points in the 70s.

The combination of high dew points and high temperatures will yield heat indices between 100 and 105 degrees through Saturday. Daily heat indexes in the triple digits and overnight lows in the 70s will wear on anyone without access to effective air conditioning, especially those sensitive to heat-related illnesses.

Heat indexes near 100 will be dangerously hot for sensitive groups, including children and the elderly. Rain chances will return on Saturday and contribute to a cooler day for some, though uncertainty is somewhat high regarding Saturday’s precipitation chances.

If you’re traveling to Kansas City or St. Louis, you should expect it to feel hotter in each city throughout the week than in rural areas of Mid-Missouri. The expansive pavement and lack of green cover can create hotter environments, especially over time, as buildings and pavement hold heat overnight, leading to greater warmth during the day.

Try to limit your time outdoors during peak heating hours from late morning through dusk. Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, and stay hydrated with water or electrolyte drinks, especially if you work outdoors.

Make sure pets have cool shelter and plenty of water, and avoid taking them on longer walks during the hottest part of the day. Never leave children or pets unattended in hot vehicles and always check the back seat.

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Mitchell Kaminski

SEDALIA, Mo. (KMIZ) 

The Pettis County Sheriff’s Office said a three-day joint operation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement resulted in 18 arrests. The operation targeted people investigators identified as fugitives or individuals tied to existing criminal investigations, according to the sheriff’s office.

In a statement to ABC 17 News, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed ICE conducted a targeted operation in Sedalia on June 23 that resulted in the arrests of five “illegal aliens from Mexico”. 

“Some with criminal histories ranging from DUI to failure to appear. If you come to our country illegally, we will find you, we will arrest you, and you will never return,” DHS told ABC 17 News in a statement. 

The operation ran from June 23 through June 25 and drew significant public attention in Sedalia. Residents reported seeing ICE officers and Pettis County deputies at multiple locations throughout the city. 

Sheriff Brad Anders addressed the operation in two public statements posted to social media. According to Anders, the operation focused on people who had already been identified before enforcement began. He rejected suggestions that deputies conducted broad immigration enforcement or randomly stopped people to determine immigration status.

Anders also wrote that ICE developed an initial list of individuals to locate and that members of the sheriff’s office reviewed information already known to local investigators. That information, Anders said, involved people with violent criminal histories, repeat felony activity, outstanding warrants, sexual offenses, documented gang affiliations and other public safety concerns.

The sheriff said targets included people wanted on allegations ranging from child sex crimes and aggravated domestic assault to forgery, felony DWI offenses and controlled substance cases. Anders also said two of the people arrested were among ICE’s five most wanted fugitives in the area.

Not everyone in Sedalia supported the operation. Multiple residents told ABC 17 News that some businesses closed out of fear during the three days ICE was operating in the area.

Andrew Tilley, one of several Sedalia residents critical of ICE’s presence, said he believed the operation was already affecting local businesses and labor.

“Personally, I watched about 15 SUVs chase a single car down Highway 50 yesterday,” Tilley said. “I also heard from a contractor I work with that ICE chased an entire drywall crew off of the Chick-fil-A we’re getting. All these restaurants are closing down in Sedalia because of it. It’s seriously insane.”

The Pettis County Sheriff’s Office is one of more than 90 law enforcement agencies in Missouri that has entered into an agreement with ICE. ICE offers three partnership models for local agencies under it’s 287(g) program: The Jail Enforcement Model, Task Force Model and Warrant Service Officer Program. Agencies may participate in more than one model.

Initially, the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office joined the agency’s Jail Enforcement Model in August 2025. Under the Jail Enforcement Model agreement, trained jail personnel are authorized to identify inmates in local custody who may be subject to immigration removal proceedings.

However, on April 25, the Pettis Sheriff’s Office signed a Task Force Model agreement in April. Under the Task Force Model, participating officers may identify individuals they believe are not U.S. citizens during routine policing, share information with ICE, and, in some cases, carry out immigration-related arrests or serve administrative warrants, but only under ICE supervision.

Anders defended the department’s participation in ICE’s 287(g) program and pushed back against criticism surrounding the enforcement activity.

Anders said the sheriff’s office joined the agreements based on public safety concerns rather than politics.

“Every decision made by the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office begins with one question: Will this make our community safer while remaining faithful to the Constitution and the laws we are sworn to uphold?” Anders wrote.

Pettis County first entered into an agreement with ICE in August 2025 through the Jail Enforcement Model. The sheriff’s office later signed a second agreement under ICE’s Task Force Model in April 2026.

Anders described those partnerships as comparable to other law enforcement relationships with state and federal agencies and said no single agency has all of the resources necessary to address public safety concerns alone.

The sheriff also addressed criticism and rumors that circulated online, saying that the operation was not politically motivated. 

In a second statement, Anders said the operation was not intended to broadly target people based solely on immigration status and instead focused on individuals identified through existing intelligence, criminal investigations and outstanding warrants.

He said deputies supported federal fugitive apprehension teams by providing communications, intelligence gathering, detention assistance, and scene security.

Tilley said he viewed that explanation differently and questioned why local law enforcement became involved.

“I think it’s very political,” Tilley said. “Having your county Sheriff get on board with that and help them and assist them just feels like they are letting everybody down.”

Earlier this week, Sedalia Mayor Travis Williams confirmed to ABC 17 News that ICE officers had been operating in the area but said city officials were not notified before officers arrived.

Tilley also said he worries enforcement efforts could have economic consequences for industries that rely heavily on immigrant labor.

“Everything is going to be twice as expensive if we lose all the people that are doing the jobs that nobody wants to do,” Tilly said. “I mean, nobody wants to go catch chickens at Tyson. But that’s what the illegal immigrants do, and they’re some of the nicest, hardest-working people I know. We’re making it impossible for them to gain citizenship. It costs thousands of dollars and you got to take a test that 90% of Americans would fail, it’s just it’s sickening.”

The sheriff’s office has indicated it expects to continue cooperating with ICE through its existing agreements moving forward.

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Erika McGuire

AUDRAIN COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

EDITOR’S NOTE: The crash location has been corrected.

A Columbia boy and Shelbina woman were thrown from a vehicle in a rollover crash in Audrain County on Friday evening, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

The single-vehicle crash happened on Highway 22 just east of Highway 63 at the Boone-Audrain County line just before 5:30 p.m. Friday.

The report says a 2017 Dodge Journey, driven by a 32-year-old Shelbina woman, was headed west on Highway 22 and went off the roadway for an “unknown reason” at Route Y. The driver then overcorrected and lost control of the vehicle, causing it to roll over.

An 11-year-old Columbia boy and a 34-year-old Shelbina woman were thrown from the vehicle when it crashed, the report says. Both were taken to University Hospital by ambulance with serious injuries.

Another passenger, a 13-year-old Columbia girl, suffered moderate injuries and was brought to University Hospital by ambulance. No passengers were wearing seatbelts, according to the report.

The driver was reportedly wearing a seatbelt and was not hurt. The SUV had extensive damage.

An ABC 17 News photographer on scene saw an ambulance, a tow truck and several police vehicles.

MSHP said in a post on “X” Friday that multiple people were injured and the road was blocked. Drivers were asked to avoid the area.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boone County man was charged Friday with two counts of child enticement — the latest in a string of defendants charged with similar crimes this week.

John Binu, 25, tried to meet with two 16-year-old girls on Thursday for sex after meeting them online, according to a probable cause statement. The girls were actually decoys, according to the statement.

Binu didn’t deny that he planned to pay the girls and said he knew the person he met online represented herself as 16 years old.

Binu remained in the Boone County Jail on no bond Friday.

He was the latest in a string of men to be charged with similar child sex crimes in Boone County this week, including the former Missouri Department of Revenue general counsel Daniel Follett, 56. Other men arrested this week on similar charges are Ethan Deimeke, 27, of Auxvasse; David Burres, 32; Brice Morris, 34, of Columbia; Rollie Pogue, 29, of Moberly; Jose Jimenzez, 54, of Columbia; and Rifat Apurba, 56.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boone County grand jury on Friday indicted a Columbia man accused of killing his romantic partner and disposing of her body in a trash bin that was found in a creek.

Andrew Acton is accused of strangling or smothering the 47-year-old woman sometime between Oct. 1, 2025, and May 10, 2026. The grand jury indictment gave the victim’s initials as C.A.C., and describes the cause of death as “neck impression.”

Acton was indicted Friday on the same charges that were filed against him earlier in the investigation — second-degree murder, abandoning a corpse and evidence tampering.

A fisherman initially recovered the trash can at the Providence boat access, who reported seeing a human leg wrapped in a blanket inside. Authorities have not publicly released other details about the case, including motive.

Acton was arrested after investigators matched the truck he was driving to surveillance video that showed the truck hauling the trash bin near Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area.

Acton’s last listed address is in the 3000 block of Bray Avenue in southwest Columbia. County records show the home was foreclosed on in March, with the property being purchased by HBH Holdings at the end of the month.

According to documents from the Missouri Secretary of State’s office, Acton was a former owner of the now-closed 63 Diner in Columbia.

A hearing in Acton’s case is set for Monday. He remains in the Boone County Jail on no bond.

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Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) –

Norm Ruebling, the cofounder of a Columbia airport shuttle business and longtime local musician, died on Thursday.

Ruebling helped found the MO-X Doc & Norm direct shuttle service in Columbia, taking people to and from the St. Louis and Kansas City airports. The business posted about his passing on Facebook on Friday afternoon.

“Our team and all of Mid-Missouri lost a beloved friend with the passing of Norm Ruebling,” the post states. “His spirit and sense of humor were loved by all who knew him.”

Ruebling came to the University of Missouri in 1971, according to a story written by the school in 2020, and joined the ranks of Marching Mizzou. Ruebling spent many years in Columbia and Mid-Missouri playing around town with the Norm Ruebling Band, including at Mizzou and Columbia College athletic events.

Missouri Cancer Associates shared Ruebling’s story of diagnosis and recovery in 2020.

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