Columbia man charged after allegedly breaking into home, tried to stab man

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was arrested and charged after he allegedly broke into a home and tried to stab a man with a knife.

Mark Autenrieth, 52, is charged with first-degree burglary, second-degree assault and armed-criminal action. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An initial arraignment was held Thursday at the Boone County Courthouse.

Columbia police were dispatched to a residence Tuesday afternoon for a burglary-in-progress call, according to the probable cause statement. The victim allegedly told Boone County Joint Communications that Autenrieth broke into his home and threatened him with a knife.

The alleged victim told police that Autenrieth entered his home without permission by walking through an unlocked sliding door in the back of the residence. The victim heard his dogs barking, went downstairs and saw Autenrieth, according to the probable cause statement.

The victim allegedly yelled at Autenrieth to leave, but Autenrieth charged at him with a knife. The knife was about 2 inches from the victim’s face before the victim punched Autenrieth in the throat, the statement says.

Autenrieth fell to the ground and the victim ran back upstairs and called police. Autenrieth ran upstairs with the knife. The victim wrestled with Autenrieht, causing him to drop the knife, according to the probable cause statement. Autenrieth allegedly threatened to kill the victim before running away.