Police use gas, take one in custody after Monday standoff in central Columbia

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

One man was arrested after a standoff took place Monday afternoon in the 1200 block of Larch Court in central Columbia.

Columbia Police Department spokesman Christian Tabak told ABC 17 News around 4:30 p.m. that police took Ronald Powell, 28, into custody. Tabak said no shots were fired and no injuries have been reported. Tabak also stated the standoff began around 11 a.m.

Tabak told ABC 17 News in an interview that officers used gas to eventually get Powell to surrender. The department used many other tools, he said, such as drones and crisis negotiators.

Powell was wanted on four warrants, including two domestic assault cases, Tabak said. Online court records show Powell is accused of hitting someone and threatening them with a knife in August. He was charged with armed criminal action, the unlawful use of a weapon and third-degree domestic assault.

A judge issued a warrant in that case and in three other cases in which Powell was on probation. In 2020 and 2021, he was charged for possessing a controlled substance. In 2019, he was convicted of stealing.

Police later said in a press release that additional probable cause was obtained on Nov. 13 to arrest Powell on accusations of assault, kidnapping, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon in connection to an incident that allegedly occurred on Oct. 23.

He was listed on the Boone County Jail roster on Monday evening.

An ABC 17 News reporter saw multiple Columbia police officers, as well as detectives, a K-9 unit and firefighters.

Police left the scene just before 5 p.m.

Powell could face additional charges stemming from the standoff.