Jefferson City man charged after alleged police standoff and attempted shooting
Jefferson City police arrested Michael Brown on Tuesday after a standoff and an armed robbery, police say.
Brown, 30, of Jefferson City, is charged with robbery, assault, armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm and resisting arrest for a felony. He is being held without bond at the Cole County Jail.
The probable cause statement for Brown states that he and another subject pushed their way into a home in the 300 block of West Ashley Street. on Monday evening.
Brown pointed a gun at one of the victims, “demanded money, and threatened to kill everyone inside the house,” according to the probably cause statement.
Police say Brown fired the gun inside two times, but no one was hit. There were two occasions where Brown allegedly attempted to shoot one of the victims, but the gun “malfunctioned,” according to the probable cause statement.
Police say Brown then grabbed money that was on a table and left.
On Tuesday, police gathered at a residence on Hickory Street, where Brown was inside.
Police confirmed that Brown was armed, and demanded that he come outside. Brown refused. The Jefferson City Police Department SWAT team was called to the scene to continue negotiations.
After about 45 minutes, Brown surrendered, and police took him into custody. One of the victims from Monday’s robbery later identified Brown in a lineup.
Cathleen Gerling lives in the house where Brown was barricaded and knows him personally.
“I woke up, came outside, sat on the porch and the police kind of bombarded me. I didn’t realize that things were so serious,” Gerling said. “I’m glad that he came out when he did it could have been a lot worse.”
Gerling said Brown committed Monday’s robbery because of a personal issue with the people involved and said that they had been “bullying” and “threatening” Brown.
“He was provoked. He was definitely provoked to go to the extreme,” Gerling said.