Man charged after allegedly eating food, threatening worker in Columbia convenience store

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man originally from the Kansas City area has been charged in Boone County after allegedly eating donuts, candy and a hot dog at a convenience store without paying, and then threatening a manager's life.

David J. Strack, 43, was charged Thursday with first-degree burglary, first-degree harassment, second-degree making a terrorist threat and two counts of misdemeanor stealing. The charges stem from the convenience store incident and another at a Ramada Inn hotel.

A Kansas City address is listed for Strack in court records but jail documents indicate he lives in the Columbia area without a permanent address.

Police say Strack went into a store in the 900 block of Conley Road and ate a package of donuts, a package of Reese's peanut butter cups and a hot dog -- altogether worth about $9. Strack went to the counter and told a manager, "This is a robbery, don't make it a murder," according to a probable cause statement.

Strack returned to the store and threatened to cut the manager's throat and shoot her, the statement says. The store went on lockdown until police arrived.

Officers were called about an hour later to the nearby Ramada. A cleaning lady reported a man came into the room, locked the door behind him and started to walk toward her. She opened the window to the outside and climbed out to escape, police say.

Police confirmed the man was Strack through security video, the statement says. They also alleged the footage showed him taking the cleaning lady's cellphone.

Strack remained in the Boone County Jail without bond Thursday. No hearing has been set in his case.