Charges added against Cole County theft suspect

More charges were filed last week against a Westphalia man after he allegedly stole a U-Haul auto-hauler trailer Aug. 31 from Affordable Towing in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Surveillance video captured Drew Buersmeyer taking the U-Haul. Officers were in contact with Buersmeyer for an unrelated incident on Sept. 1 where they saw the U-Haul attached to his vehicle.

Buersmeyer later admitted to taking the U-Haul.

He is also charged with four other, unrelated issues including illegal possession of animals and failure to register through the Department of Conservation.

Authorities found a copperhead snake, which is a protected species, a bob cat pelt, turkey parts and deer skull at his home after the Osage County Sheriff’s Department, Jefferson City Police Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol searched his residence in Westphalia on Sept. 4.

Buersmeyer was arrested after that search.

The investigation began with a report of a stolen dump truck from a contractor building the new Capital City High School. Another contractor reported a stolen generator and several gas cans.

During the investigation, authorities found a tandem axle dump truck and trailer.

Buersmeyer was taken to the Cole County Jail after the Sept. 4 arrest and is being held without bond.

He is scheduled to appear in Osage County court Nov. 6 for illegal possession of animal pelts.