Suspect arrested in three Columbia robberies
A Columbia man was arrested Monday following three robberies over the last three days.
36-year-old Deshawn Smith was arrested on three counts of first degree robbery, 3 counts of armed criminal action, leaving the scene of an accident, 2nd degree property damage, driving on revoked license, possession of a controlled substance, careless driving, resisting arrest, and unlawful possession of a concealed weapon.
Smith is accused of robbing the Super 8 Motel on Clark Lane on Saturday night. Smith allegedly walked into the lobby of a motel and showed a gun to employees at the front desk. He then ran with an unknown amount of money.
Early Monday morning, Smith allegedly came into the Motel 6 on I-70 Drive Southwest, showed a handgun, and demanded money. When the clerk refused, Smith ran off.
About 30 minutes later, Smith allegedly went into the Fast Lane 66 on Paris Road and demanded money. He fled the scene with an unknown amount of money.
When police responded to the armed robbery at the Fast Lane, they noticed a gray Chevrolet matching a description of the Super 8 Motel’s Saturday night robbery a few blocks away.
Officers tried to conduct a traffic stop on Smith, but he refused to stop. Smith crashed his car through a fence on Mulberry Drive then took off on foot.
Officers found money in the same denominations as the money that was stolen from Fast Lane. They also found a bag of marijuana and a handgun in a bush nearby.
Smith was charged with three counts of first degree robbery and three counts of armed criminal action, as well as unlawful possession of a firearm and resisting arrest.
He’s being held in the Boone County Jail on $160,000 cash only bond. Smith was released from prison in December 2013 for not paying child support and having drugs.
