St. James man accused of breaking into Rolla Technical Institute, fighting teacher
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A St. James man was charged with multiple felonies after court documents say he broke into a school and fought a teacher on Thursday.
Heber Lewis, 19, was charged with first-degree burglary, first-degree making a terroristic threat, first-degree property damage and resisting arrest. He is being held at the Phelps County Jail on a $100,000 bond. A confined docket hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
According to the court documents, police were called to Rolla Technical Institute at 6:38 p.m. Thursday when Lewis entered the building after breaking a window with a piece of wood. There were students and teachers inside the building and Lewis kicked multiple doors, the probable cause statement says.
When police found Lewis, he was fighting a teacher, the statement says. The teacher was able to get on top of Lewis, and Lewis was “muttering words that did not make sense” while lying on his back, the statement says. Police tried to get Lewis to follow commands, but he refused and resisted arrest, the statement says. Lewis also allegedly referred to himself as “God” during the struggle, the statement says.
Police had to use a Taser to subdue Lewis, and eventually used pepper spray while he bringing him to a patrol vehicle, the statement says. One of Lewis’ knees appeared to be dislocated and he was brought to an area hospital, court documents say.
Rolla Public Schools acknowledged the break-in Thursday evening on its social media.
“Earlier this evening Rolla Technical Institute was forcibly entered by an individual who has since been placed in custody by Rolla Police Department. A group of students and staff was in the building conducting extracurricular activities, but no one was harmed,” the post says. “We are grateful for the swift response from our staff members and local law-enforcement. Damage to the building was minimal and we will work to make repairs as quickly as possible.”
