Columbia man accused of assaulting Hy-Vee employee, charged with two misdemeanors

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was charged with a pair of misdemeanors after he allegedly assaulted an employee at the Hy-Vee on West Broadway in Columbia.

Jojuan Leon Hunter, 36, was charged with first-degree trespassing and fourth-degree assault. He is being held in the Boone County Jail on a $1,500 bond. A court date has not been scheduled.

According to the probable cause statement, Columbia police were dispatched to the Hy-Vee at 11:32 a.m. Sunday for a report of an assault. The statement says a woman who was a member of the Hy-Vee management team had been assaulted by a man.

The victim allegedly told police that she was made aware that Hunter was “shouting and causing a disruption at the store,” according to court documents. The victim allegedly met Hunter at the exit doors of the building and told him he was not allowed to reenter, the statement says.

Hunter then allegedly assaulted the woman and took her cellphone, the statement says. Hunter allegedly pushed the woman to the ground and started pushing her head into the floor, according to the statement.

Court documents say the assault stopped after several patrons at the store “removed Hunter” from the victim.