Columbia robbery suspect who holed up in house charged

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man charged with a violent robbery in downtown Columbia was set to make his initial court appearance Monday afternoon.

Michael L. Langston, 44, is charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree assault for allegedly beating a victim at the Zephyr gas station on Providence Road on Friday morning.

A probable cause statement says Langston approached the victim and demanded money. Langston punched the man in the face, knocked him to the ground and stole money from his pockets, the statement says.

The victim was treated for a broken nose and fractured eye socket and had skinned knees and bruises, according to the statement.

Police obtained video of the assault, and investigators shared photos of the suspect. A detective pulled over a vehicle early Friday afternoon, and Langston came out of a house at 202 Hickman Ave. before going back inside, the statement says.

Langston took off his clothes once inside, but police arrested him and found the clothes in the house, according to the statement.

He remained in jail Monday afternoon without bond. A hearing was set for 1 p.m.