Police arrest suspect in robbery at Passions Adult Boutique

COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Police Department has arrested 27-year-old Jawan Avant in connection with the robbery at Passions Adult Boutique on Thursday. 

CPD has recommended a first-degree robbery charge for Avant.

The police department says it cracked the case after community members came forward with information and evidence. According to CPD, Avant entered the business with a gun and fired one shot at the ceiling. Authorities say he then demanded money from the cashiers. According to surveillance video ABC 17 News received, he then thanked them, before leaving the scene.

Police found a spent shell casing and a bullet in the ceiling at the store, according to a probable cause statement. Officers identified the car Avant drove away after running from the store using security camera video from local businesses, according to the statement.

An officer pulled Avant over Tuesday and arrested him after a brief struggle in which police used a stun gun, the statement says. Investigators also used security video from the area of Avant's home and found evidence of a person in all dark clothing getting into the same car and leaving the night of the robbery, the statement says.

Avant admitted to the robbery under interrogation, according to the statement.

This isn't the first time Avant has been in trouble with the law.

According to CaseNet, the Columbia man was charged with property damage and domestic assault in early November and was later released on bond. Back in 2013 Avant was also sentenced to 11 years behind bars. That sentence is related to the conviction of multiple first-degree robbery and armed criminal action charges in Columbia in 2012.

Police asking the public to come forward with any additional information about the robbery.