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Man accused of throwing Molotov cocktail at courthouse charged with arson

Nicholas Walters
Boone County Jail
Nicholas Walters

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man who is accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at the entrance of the Boone County Courthouse on Tuesday was charged with four felonies on Wednesday.

Nicholas Walters, 39, was charged with first-degree arson, armed criminal action, resisting arrest and drug possession. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court date has not been set.

The probable cause statement says Walters was seen on camera walking up to the courthouse around noon on Tuesday with a glass jar that contained gasoline and paper. He threw the Molotov cocktail at the front entrance that caused “an eruption of fire” under the door, the statement says.

Another person exiting the building was almost set on fire and ran away as flamed ignited, the statement says. That person stated in court documents that they smelled gasoline.

Court marshals chased Walters and Walters eventually grabbed a 3-foot chain and started swinging it at marshals, the statement says. Walters ran away again and was eventually arrested by Columbia police officers.

Walters allegedly admitted to making the incendiary object and asked police to tell the court he was sorry, court documents say. Police also found him with methamphetamine and a pipe.

Walters was out on bond in another case and has several active court cases in Boone County. A motion to revoke bond was filed in multiple cases.

In one case, he was charged with first-degree property damage. He was charged in another case with first-degree property damage and misdemeanor second-degree property damage.

In a third case, he was charged with first-degree property damage and two misdemeanors: Second-degree property damage and second-degree harassment.

A hearing in all three of those cases is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 3.

He was charged with misdemeanor first-degree trespassing in his other two cases.

Article Topic Follows: Crime

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