Authorities bring down ring leader in Columbia crime

Authorities are still looking for 5 suspects on the loose after a major drug bust in Boone County Thursday.

22 people were captured yesterday, including one of the ring leaders, Malcom Redmon.

Redmon has had a big impact on the local crime scene.

Back in August, federal authorities arrested Redmon on three cocaine-related charges. Now, he’s facing more federal charges.

“He’s someone who has been know to the law enforcement community here in Boone County and central Missouri for quite some time,” Boone County Detective Tom O’Sullivan.

Redmon’s criminal career started early; charges and convictions go back 20 years.

He’s been in and out of prison since 2002.

In Columbia, he’s been linked to multiple high-profile crimes.

Along with the bust three months ago, police said Redmon and a rival gang were involved in a series of shootings more than 2 1/2 years ago.

It started as a fight downtown followed by someone taking a shot at Redmon outside Chuck E. Cheese later that month.

Officials said Redmon’s violent criminal past is built on a foundation of crack cocaine.

“He has been a significant player if you will in the illegal drug trade. In some of the off-shoots of that criminal activity, violence and other activities,” said O’Sullivan.

The new federal indictment said Redmon wanted to branch out with his illegal enterprise and wanted to start a prostitution business in Mid-Missouri.

“Boone County is a safer place today than it was a week ago, but we have to remain vigilant and proactive and aggressive going after these types of criminals,” said O’Sullivan.

Redmon has been in custody of U.S. Marshals since early August of this year.

Thursday’s round-up followed 18 months of investigating and involved about 60 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers.