Court documents: Drug deal led to Monday night MU Alert
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Investigators allege in court documents that a drug deal led to an MU Alert being sent out Monday night.
Columbia Police Department Public Information Officer Brittany Hilderbrand said Bruce Blumenthal, 21, and Lauren Pepper, 22, were arrested in connection with the incident. University of Missouri spokesman Christian Basi said Blumenthal and Pepper are students.
Boone County prosecutors charged Blumenthal with a felony count of robbery. As of Wednesday, charges had not been filed against Pepper.
A victim told investigators a drug deal ended with an assault inside Blumenthal's apartment.
The probable cause statement said the victim showed up to the U Centre apartment building on 401 Turner Ave. and alleged Blumenthal had taken $1,000, a pair of shoes and other personal belongings from them. Police said in the documents the victim was not wearing shoes after the incident.
Pepper was seen leaving the apartment building while the victim was being interviewed by police. An officer said in the documents she was asked to stop but couldn't because her car was running.
Police say Pepper was carrying various out to a car which was parked in a nearby garage. She was stopped in the garage and Blumenthal was seen in the driver's seat of the vehicle, the probable cause statement said. After a search, officers said a large amount of marijuana packaged in bags and glass jars was found inside the car.
Police say Blumenthal admitted to fighting the victim. The probable cause statement said Blumenthal took a wooden pocket knife from the victim -- it was later found with Blumenthal.
Officers said marijuana products, prescription drugs and a small bag labeled "DMT" were found inside Blumenthal's apartment. His probable cause statement said a dry-erase board with prices for various drugs was hung in Blumenthal's kitchen.
Boone County Jail records say Pepper bonded out of custody. Records included that Blumenthal was still in the jail being held on a $50,000 bond as of Wednesday morning.
Columbia and MU police officers responded to the scene before 9 p.m. The alert originally said gunshots were fired, a subsequent alert clarified that one person was assaulted but not shot. Officers gave an all-clear at 9:30 p.m.
A witness at the scene told ABC 17 they heard one-three gunshots.
