Woman arrested after helping man connected to 2016 robbery at Tupelo Place

A Columbia man was arrested on Sunday in connection to drug and robbery charges.

Officers were sent to the 1500 block of Tupelo Place on Sunday morning to find Anthony Munzo, who had a felony warrant out of Cooper County. Officers saw Munzo leave the home carrying a backpack when they tried to see if anyone was home. Officers also saw Amber Bowman exit the residence and get into her vehicle.

A sergeant made a traffic stop in the 400 block of Vandiver Drive on the vehicle that Bowman was seen driving. Munzo was the front passenger. Munzo took off running from the vehicle and was caught at Providence and Texas Avenue.

Bowman was arrested in the 400 block of Vandiver Drive for felony hindering prosecution.

Officers also had probable cause for Munzo on a robbery that occurred on March 18 in the 1500 block of Tupelo Place. Munzo stole property from a male victim by pointing a large machete at the victim’s face.

While officers were searching Munzo upon his arrest, an officer located marijuana in one of Munzo’s pants pocket. Munzo was also wearing an empty shoulder handgun holster. Officers searched the vehicle and found a small box that contained numerous small plastic bags, a glass tube and a baggie with a black or brown substance that tested positive for methamphetamine.

Officers also found .380 ammunition, a .380 handgun, an iPad, and other various items. The iPad had been reported to the Columbia Police Department as stolen in a 2016 burglary and the handgun had been reported to the Columbia Police Department as lost.

Officers served a search warrant at his residence and located more property that was stolen in the robbery.

Munzo was arrested at Providence and Texas Avenue for the outstanding felony warrant out of Cooper County for failure to appear on traffic offenses, first degree robbery and felony unlawful use of weapons, felony possession of a controlled substance, felony resisting or interfering with an arrest, misdemeanor stealing and use or possession of drug paraphernalia.