Woman accused of Osage County robbery found trapped in bathroom

OSAGE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Warrensburg woman has been charged with two felonies after she allegedly tried to rob a business in Osage County on Thursday.

Allison Leann Hale, 33, was charged with second-degree robbery and first-degree property damage. She is being held at the Osage County Jail without bond, according to Casenet.

According to the probable cause statement, deputies were dispatched to a business – that wasn’t named in the statement and whose address was not included – for a report of a robbery in progress. The business was referred to as a “store” in the statement.

Osage County sheriff’s deputies arrive to the business and found that customer had locked Hale in a bathroom. Hale was immediately detained. Deputies asked Hale about other possible suspectes because of a concern about a possible second armed person in the area, the statement says. Hale allegedly said “they” chose the business because it was in a small, remote town, but she did not give the identity of “they,” the statement says.

Hale had no weapons or a cellphone and was brought to the jail.

An employee had allegedly told deputies that she was working at the cash register while helping another customer, when she noticed Hale, the statement says. After the customer left, Hale allegedly said "Sorry I have to do this" and then demanded all the money from the register, the statement says.     

Hale then started digging through a bag and the employee was worried she had a weapon. Another person asked Hale if she had a gun, to which she said no, but her boyfriend in car outside the business had one, the statement says. Hale allegedly said, "my boyfriend is making me do it," the statement says.

Both people then tried to restrain Hale until deputies could arrive and several customers helped them, according to the statement. Hale was eventually placed in the employees’ bathroom, the statement says. She yelled for those in the store to let her out and allegedly bent the handle to the door, the statement says.

Then, according to the probable cause statement, Hale allegedly climbed up a handicap bar next to the toilet, removed a ceiling tile and climbed over the wall into the customers’ bathroom. She then apparently fell through the ceiling and customers held the door to the bathroom shut until law enforcement arrived, the statement says.

One witness was allegedly injured, but did not need medical attention, the statement says.

The district managed later arrived and stated it would cost more than $750 to fix the door, ceiling and HVAC duct.