Month: March 2015

Senator John Danforth released a statement Thursday from his assistant, Martha Fitz, who was on the phone with the late Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich’s wife at the time of Schweich’s apparent suicide. According to the statement, Fitz said she got a phone call from Schweich’s chief of staff, Trish Vincent, in the auditor at around

An American flag can be seen almost anywhere you go; in front of schools, churches, and the Capitol, to name a few. On Thursday, House Bill 499 passed by a vote of 9-0 in committee and will be heard on the House floor in about a week. It would allow public school students to say

A Rocheport woman was arrested for child porn Wednesday. 47-year-old Marjorie Newell was investigated by the Boone County Cyber Crimes Task Force after authorities learned she was talking with a St. Louis mother who arranged for her 14-year-old daughter to meet with Newell and a man for sex. Newell admitted to investigators she had photos

Scammers have been targeting some of the 80 million people who may have had patient information hacked during the Anthem data breach in an attempt to gather personal information. There are several things that consumers can do after any data breach to help protect themselves. Here are some tips from the Better Business Bureau: Visit

Columbia Police are investigating after a suspect threatened a cab driver with a gun Wednesday. The Nick’s Taxi Cab Company driver said he picked up the suspect at Splasher’s Laundry on Paris Road around 2:00 p.m. The suspect said he had a gun and told the driver to take him where he wanted to go.

Three people were arrested in Boonville Wednesday after authorities found them with drugs. Boonville Police, the MUSTANG Drug Task Force, Cooper County deputies, and the state Highway Patrol searched a home at 804 Lori Drive. Investigators took drug paraphernalia, marijuana, meth, and prescriptiondrugs from the home. 31-year-old Benjamin Meyers of Boonville, 46-year-old Eddie Pitts of

A Columbia man was arrested Wednesday after a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper found drugs and a gun in his car. 26-year-old Duncan Fortner was pulled over for a registration violation on State Route F in Callaway County. The trooper asked to search Fortner’s car, and found one gram of meth, 3 oxycodone pills, drug

A Fulton man was arrested early Thursday morning after allegedly breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s house. 26-year-old Kevin Benson was arrested at 625 Westview after the woman called police, saying he entered the home without permission. Benson was arrested for 1st degree burglary and was taken to the Callaway Co. Jail. He’s being held on $20,000

Boone County Joint Communications announced Thursday that the number of 911 calls increased in 2014. Dispatchers managed 82,685 emergency 911 calls in 2014, 7% more calls than in 2013. That’s an average of 226 emergency calls per day in 2014. 2014 marked the 7th year in a row of a consecutive yearly increase in calls.

Just hours after the Department of Justice announced it will not charge Officer Darren Wilson Wednesday, one Missouri senator took action trying to change the system. State Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, presented a bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee that details when law enforcement officers can use deadly force. “We are in the process

Police officials are warning shoppers because a group of criminals is hitting the aisles of Columbia’s stores. “Pickpockets that are coming by, distracting the women and then actually grabbing their wallets out of the purses while they’re distracting the women with questions,” said Bryana Maupin with CPD. Police said multiple pickpocket incidents in different stores

ABC 17s Sports Director Austin Kim recaps Wednesday high school basketball.

The month of February came in 8.8 degrees below average and so far March is 10 degrees below average. That is about to change as warmer air moves in starting Friday. After a very cold day Thursday, temperatures will rebound into the 40s Friday and 50s this upcoming weekend. The temperature outlook through March 14th

One of Columbia’s most wanted criminals has been arrested. Antwine Jackson has been on CPD’s “Most Wanted” list since November. Jackson has felony and misdemeanor warrants totaling a $135,000 cash only bond. Police said it was a contact they had who called in to let them know Jackson was on Redwood Road. Police could not

Governor Nixon responded to the Department of Justice report on police fairness in Ferguson. The report said blacks in Ferguson are disproportionately subjected to excessive police force, traffic stops and citations for petty infractions. The department has issued several recommendations to improve the police department and court system. Nixon said, “On August 11, I asked

Bad weather in the southern states is to blame for some cancelled flights in Mid-Missouri. USA Today reports more than 1600 flights were canceled nationwide Wednesday. ABC 17 News checked at Columbia Regional Airport and found that three of its flights scheduled to and from Dallas were canceled. Those three are among more than 600

Missouri legislators are considering a bill that would release non-violent offenders from prison who are in for life. The only person with such a sentence is Jeff Mizanskey. Last month ABC 17’s Joey Parker visited with Mizanskey in person to speak with him about his unique sentence. Mizanskey is in prison for life without parole

A Mid-Missouri car dealership has been sold. McLarty Automotive Group bought Frank Fletcher Honda, which was previously owned by Little Rock, Arkansas native Frank Fletcher. The dealership will be renamed Columbia Honda. Temporary signs are expected by Thursday to replace the signage at the dealership off exit 127 of I-70 along Vandiver Drive. There will

A Columbia woman is in the Boone County Jail Wednesday after police said she threatened a man with a knife and cut him. Officers arrested Amanda Clay Tuesday in the 2300 block of Whitegate Drive. Investigators said Clay grabbed a knife during a verbal argument with the man. The victim said he thought she was

A man accused in the 2011 shooting death of a rural Harrisburg man appeared in Howard Co. Court Wednesday. Zachary Jefferson is charged in the 2011 killing of Jon Spurling in rural Harrisburg. Jefferson was married to Spurling’s ex-wife and investigators believe he was jealous of Spurling.