Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A woman from Montgomery City has been charged with a plethora of felonies after she was accused of abusing three children.

Shelley Denese Haislip, born 1968, was charged Wednesday in Montgomery County with four counts of abusing a child younger than 14 years old, three counts of first-degree kidnapping and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Court records show she posted bond on Thursday.

A hearing was held on Thursday and Haislip waived her arraignment. A counsel status hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16.

The three child victims were interviewed in September about the possible abuse and allegedly stated they were “spanked” with a tennis racket, leather belts, a wooden hanger and a horsewhip, according to the probable cause statement. The youth also described getting hit on their bare feet with the horsewhip, the statement says.

The children also claimed Haislip would lock them in a room and not allow them to leave, even if they needed to use the bathroom, the statement says. Children allegedly told investigators that some of them would “go” in their pants or try to sneak out a window in order “use the bathroom,” the statement says.

One of the children would also sneak out the window in order to get their siblings food, the statement says. The youth claimed they would be locked in the room for days and the only way for them to eat was to sneak out when Haislip was sleeping, the statement says.

The children were put in foster case, and the foster parent allegedly told authorities “the eating habits of Juvenile 3 concerned (them) due to them eating so much so quickly that they would often choke or even get sick,” and that it took weeks to help them “curb this behavior,” court documents say.

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Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Police have arrested a 16-year-old boy who allegedly robbed a Phillips 66 on Paris Road on Thursday morning, the Columbia Police Department wrote in a press release.

Police say the teenager was arrested after a search warrant was served in the 2600 block of Quail Drive.

Police claim the teenager is tied to other robberies that occurred at the same Phillips 66 location on Oct. 30 and another armed robbery that occurred in the 1600 block of Towne Drive on Nov. 5.

“Clothing and other evidence were found at the residence that tied the suspect to the Paris Road robbery and to robberies that occurred Oct. 30 at the same location and Nov. 5 in the 1600 block of Towne Drive. A firearm that was used in the robberies also was located at the residence and was previously reported stolen out of Bonne Terre,” the release says.

Police wrote that evidence was found that also connected the youth to two burglaries reported on Nov. 14 in the 2700 block of Paris Road.

The teen was arrested on suspicion of three counts of first-degree robbery, three counts of armed criminal action, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of second-degree burglary, one count of felony property damage, two counts of misdemeanor stealing, one count of misdemeanor property damage, one count of obstructing government operations and one count of felony tampering with evidence.

 A man, Keveon Johnson, 41, was also arrested at the Quail Drive residence on suspicion of drug possession.

An ABC 17 News reporter arrived at the scene around 7 a.m. and saw around 10 Columbia Police Department patrol vehicles and a crime scene investigator van at the scene.

Sgt. Meyer with the Columbia Police Department told ABC 17 News at the scene that an employee called police, saying the store had been robbed and the suspect took an undisclosed amount of money. No injuries were reported and Meyer says there is only one suspect, who is not in custody.

It is unclear if a weapon was involved. The yellow tape surrounding the parking lot appeared to be unrelated to the robbery, as there is working being done in the parking lot of the gas station.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boone County dog breeder is set to be in the Boone County Courthouse Thursday afternoon for a bond hearing.

Melissa Sanders, 26, has been charged with three counts of felony animal abuse and 15 counts of misdemeanor animal abuse. Sanders will be in front of Judge Kayla Jackson-Williams at 1 p.m. Thursday in the Boone County Courthouse.

Sanders owns Magnum Opus German Shepherds. Animal control, assisted by Boone County sheriff’s deputies, found 17 living but severely malnourished dogs, with two on the brink of death, according to court documents. Five “intact” dead dogs were found in black garbage bags along with about a dozen dog skulls.

Authorities also found four dead dogs outside the building.

The Central Missouri Humane Society is asking for help in fostering dogs, due to limited space following Sanders’ case.

Michelle Casey, of CMHS, wrote in an email that the shelter has more than 30 dogs available for foster care, including four from Sanders’ case. Some other dogs from the case have been placed in foster homes, Casey wrote.

Information about fostering or adoption can be found on CMHS’ website and social media.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, MO. (KMIZ)

Two people were seriously injured and another had moderate injuries in a Wednesday early evening crash on Highway 40 in Boone County, just east of Ivy Lane, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says a 2003 Honda CR-V – driven by a 40-year-old Columbia man – was heading eastbound when it pulled into the path of a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado and hit it head-on.

The Chevrolet was driven by a 38-year-old Columbia man, the report says. He wore a seatbelt and had moderate injuries. He was brought to University Hospital by a private vehicle.

The driver of the Honda and his passenger – a 45-year-old woman from Columbia – did not wear seatbelts and they had serious injuries, the report says. They were brought to University Hospital by ambulance.

The Chevrolet had extensive damage, while the Honda was totaled.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Bike and Pedestrian Commission voted to write a letter of opposition to the Columbia City Council on a proposed ordinance that would regulate the use of medians, road crossings and islands. 

On Wednesday, the Columbia Bike and Pedestrian Commission reviewed the ordinance that had drawn large crowds at a City Council meeting earlier in the week.

“We’re trying to focus on the traffic issues related to pedestrians and bicycles and not on the other issues,”  Bike and Pedestrian Commission Chair Elke Boyd said. So from the transportation perspective, yes, there were many problems with that ordinance.” 

Council members on Monday night voted 6-1 to table the issue until Feb. 2, with Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman being the sole “no” vote.

The ordinance would regulate the use of medians, road crossings and islands by both motorists and pedestrians at intersections with speeds of 35 miles per hour or greater, average daily traffic volumes of 15,000 vehicles or greater, or where the median width is fewer than 6 feet wide.

If adopted, the ordinance will:

Prohibit crossing a major road anywhere except in a crosswalk, a pedestrian-control signal, or an intersection if those things aren’t available.

Prohibit being on a median fewer than 6 feet wide except when crossing the road.

Prohibit getting out of cars while in a traffic lane or within a major intersection.

Prohibit approaching cars on a major road unless the car is legally parked.

Prohibit people in vehicles from engaging with pedestrians at major intersections.

However, members who attended Thursday’s Bike and Pedestrian Safety meeting unanimously opposed the idea.

Multiple commission members called it a “Panhandling Ordinance” that was masked as a “median ordinance” to protect the city from possible First Amendment conflicts. 

Others cited issues with “vague definitions” while saying that the ordinance needed more focus on enforcing traffic violations. 

“Our biggest concerns with the ordinance were that they don’t really consider conditions on the ground a thing.  For example, the requirement to cross a road only at intersections is a dangerous proposition and also inconvenient,” Boyd told ABC 17 News. “There are long stretches of some of our major roads without an intersection, so pedestrians would have to walk maybe half a mile out of their way each direction to cross the road.”

The commission reported there have been three traffic fatalities this year, with two of those being motorcycle crashes. While the number of fatalities is on pace to drop, the number of crashes is on the rise. The commission reported 53 crashes in Columbia so far this year, compared to 51 at the same time last year.  

An email was sent to members of the commission by Carrie Gartner in October, a representative from the Business Loop CID, in support of the ordinance. 

The email cited frequent near-misses and unsafe conditions the group observed during a safety survey of the Business Loop. 

Observers saw drivers stopping unexpectedly to give money to people on medians and pedestrians darting into traffic, both creating crash risks. Crowded medians also discouraged pedestrians—especially students—from using crosswalks, leading to more jaywalking.

The CID also noted that the ordinance targets safety, not homelessness; those in need should be directed to established local support services.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Fire Department held a demonstration on turkey safety Wednesday at its training academy on Big Bear Boulevard.

Thanksgiving is next week and firefighters showed the dangers of improperly frying a turkey.

According to the National Fire Protection Agency, five people die each year and dozens more are injured in accidents linked to turkey frying. 

“So if you do decide to fry a turkey this year, just remember to be safe. Don’t fry in your garage. Move the turkey out away from the structure, and again, make sure it’s thawed,” Assistant Fire Marshal Colin Wright said.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Public Service Commission has set an intervention deadline of Dec. 12 for a certificate of need and necessity that was requested by Ameren to build a 28-mile transmission line in Montgomery and Callaway counties.

The release says Ameren believes the transmission line “is necessary to connect the Grain Belt Express LLC’s Tiger Connector transmission line to the Burns substation, thereby fulfilling Ameren Missouri’s obligation to facilitate the interconnection of the interstate transmission line into the existing transmission system.”

Applications to intervene and participate must be filed with the Secretary of the Missouri Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102-0360, or by using the Commission’s Electronic Filing and Information System at psc.mo.gov, according to the release.

The release says residents wishing to comment can contact either the Office of the Public Counsel (Governor Office Building, 200 Madison Street, Suite 650, P.O. Box 2230, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102-2230, telephone 866-922-2959, email mopco@opc.mo.gov) or the Public Service Commission Staff (P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102, telephone 800-392-4211, email pscinfo@psc.mo.gov).

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two people have been charged in connection with a burglary that occurred last month in Centralia that resulted in roughly $9,000 worth of items being stolen.

Chase Wyatt, 39, of Centralia, was charged with stealing more than $750. He was also charged in another case on Thursday with passing a bad check. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance was held on Wednesday.  He has a confined docket hearing scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday, while a preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30.

Denver Robb, 39, of Centralia, was charged with two counts of receiving stolen property and one count of drug possession. He is also being held at the jail without bond. A confined docket hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday and a preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 18.

The probable cause statement says police were called on Oct. 29 to a Centralia home after $9,000 worth of items were stolen, including guitars, amplifiers, knives and a camera.

The victim in the case told law enforcement that he saw several of the stolen knives on Nov. 4 at Tiger Pawn in Mexico, Missouri, the statement says. A ticket for the sale showed Wyatt sold the knives on Oct. 30.

Police used LeadsOnline to determine Wyatt allegedly sold a camera in Lee’s Summit, the statement says.

Robb was arrested on Nov. 7 and allegedly told police that he sold stolen property with Wyatt at a Guitar Center in Lee’s Summit, the statement says. Police also found amps and other stolen musical gear at Robb’s residence, court documents say. The Guitar Center location confirmed to police that Wyatt sold them three guitars and two amps on Oct. 31, the statement says.

A court document for another individual in the jail mentions Wyatt in a separate burglary case.

Cinda Smith, 43, of Hallsville, was charged with second-degree burglary and stealing a gun. She is being held at the jail on a $20,000 bond.

A probable cause statement says a Centralia homeowner reported to police on March 20 that 43 guns were stolen from his home between Feb. 10-14.

Police wrote that Wyatt’s phone was examined and a conversation about the alleged burglary, including photographs, occurred on Feb. 13. Photos of stolen guns were also observed by police and additional messages allegedly showed plans to sell them, the statement says.

Police eventually found a storage unit on Nov. 5 that contained stolen property that was identified by the owner, the statement says. Additional photos of Smith were found in the unit, along with items that had her name listed, court documents say.

Cinda Smith/Boone County Sheriff’s Office

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Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia’s leader of the Office of Violence Prevention D’Markus Thomas-Brown is hoping to offer a contract aimed at deescalating situations on public transit in the city to a nonprofit organization.

According to Thomas-Brown, his office plans to award the $99,840 contract to Powerhouse Community Development. The office was considering two liaisons for public transit in the city, after receiving reports of fights, threats and drunk passengers on city buses.

Thomas-Brown said his office had been having discussions about the issue since May.

The liaisons are trained in deescalation and would work toward offering peer support, life coaching and have an understanding of the services individuals can go to if they’re in need of help. Thomas-Brown said he sees the liaisons helping those who are riding the bus to help keep them safe, as well as bus drivers.

“Also being an intermediary for the bus driver so that the bus driver can focus on driving,” Thomas-Brown said. “They didn’t sign up to be the driver and a social worker or a driver in a deescalation element or helping people transition to services.”

Thomas-Brown said his office did not want to hire within its own office, but rather partner with a community based organization that had the ability to hire and offer the appropriate services. He hopes that organization can be Powerhouse.

“They had the training that was requested, the HEAT (Habilitation, Empowerment, Accountability and Therapy) training, certified peer specialist deescalation training, trauma-informed and mental health specialized training, being able to walk into a situation that’s not going to escalate but actually meet the person where they’re at when it comes to transit,” Thomas-Brown said.

The liaisons will be on six routes, according to Thomas-Brown.

Devon Harmon — a Columbia resident who rides the bus frequently to and from work — said he’s witnessed arguing and commotion on buses. He thinks the liaisons could be a positive thing, if they work toward engaging with passengers.

“I think it would be beneficial if it was more interaction, like people having conversations about things…there’s nothing wrong with talking to somebody that you’ve never met before.”

The Columbia City Council still has to approve the funding. The council will have their first read of the item during its Dec. 1 meeting, according to Thomas-Brown.

Office of Violence Prevention requests $1.8 million from DOJ

Thomas-Brown’s office is asking the Department of Justice for $1.8 million to help build out some of its collaborative efforts.

Thomas-Brown said he applied for the grant earlier this month, though it isn’t clear when the city will know if it’s been awarded the money. The office is looking to hire three new people with the funding, if approved, according to Thomas-Brown.

Those hires would include a community violence coordinator, as well as two community outreach supervisors. Thomas-Brown said the move would also include sending those hired to conferences to further their learning and engagement into community violence intervention initiatives.

The community violence coordinator would be tasked with being a collaborative partner with community-based organizations. Thomas-Brown said they would work toward filling gaps and also work closely with NOCAP groups in the community.

“That person will also help be an extension to community-based organizations, or those who want to start programs that are really in that space of where there are gaps for programming and lend the support of the Office of Violence Prevention,” Thomas-Brown said.

The two community outreach supervisors’ duties would include building street outreach and responses and help community-based organizations that don’t have the time or resources to build a rapid response team. Thomas-Brown said he intends to have one person focused on adults, while the other’s focus would shift toward youth in the community.

The two would also work toward building partnership with the city’s Project Management Office, which helps with data collection.

“We also have funding to partner with a liaison for the police department. We want an individual who’s able to be that intermediary between the Office of Violence Prevention and the police department, especially when we’re talking about focused deterrence,” Thomas-Brown said. “The desire in my eyes is, and it’ll be worked out with (Police Chief Jill Schlude) is that they could be housed in the police department as a delegated liaison to some of the community initiatives we’re doing.”

Thomas-Brown said in accepting the position, it was always his vision to expand the office. He says a one-person office is unsustainable and a “dying” office that isn’t able to implement everything that’s needed.

“So, that will give me the ability to be more out front, hand holding with different establishments and looking at the place of where we can give further funding into our CBOS and things like that to be able to actually look at strategy and vision and moving us forward in the intervention prevention space,” Thomas-Brown said.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man from California, Missouri, was charged in two separate cases on Wednesday.

Addison Dunafon was charged with first-degree child molestation in one case and tampering with a victim in a felony prosecution in another.

A no-bond warrant was issued in the child molestation case. He was also charged earlier this year in Moniteau County with tampering with a motor vehicle and he has a hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16 in that case.

The probable cause statement in the tampering with a victim case says Dunafon called the victim in the car theft case and told them to not show up to court and drop the charges. He allegedly called the victim from the jail and law enforcement reviewed a recording of the phone call.

The child molestation case court document says law enforcement was contacted on Sept. 26 about a sexual assault involving a child that occurred between June through August 2024. The victim told law enforcement details about the alleged assault on Oct. 1.

Dunafon was allegedly asked about the assault on Oct. 3 while he was detained in the jail and he denied the allegations, court documents say.

He was also charged earlier this year with misdemeanor second-degree harassment and misdemeanor resisting arrest.

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