Arraignment held for man accused of attempted robbery, armed-criminal action
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A man who is accused of trying to rob a Break Time and pointing a gun at a man was arrested by Columbia police early Friday and had an arraignment.
Nakwon Harris, 21, is charged with first-degree attempted robbery, armed-criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and second-degree kidnapping. An initial arraignment was held Friday afternoon at the Boone County Courthouse. He is being held without bond at the Boone County Jail. Harris appeared in court by video from the jail.
A confined docket hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday. A preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 11.
Columbia police responded to a panic alarm on Feb. 23 at the Break Time on Smiley Lane. The alleged victim told police that a man in a ski mask pointed a gun at his head in the parking lot and told him, “I’m not going to shoot you. I just want the money,” the probable cause statement said.
The victim told police the man wanted the money from the safe inside Break Time.
Once the two were inside the building, the suspect tossed the man a plastic bag and instructed him to put the money in the bag. The suspect put the gun down and the victim tried to grab it. The suspect, Harris, was able to get the gun back, fell backwards and his cellphone fell out of his pocket, according to the probable cause statement. Harris ran out the back door.
The victim gave police the phone.
Security footage allegedly showed a man with a gun grab the victim by his arm and made him stand at the door of the building while pointing a gun to his head, according to the probable cause statement. It also showed the victim and the man who had the gun struggling over the gun.
An officer used the phone to call 911 to obtain the phone number, which was associated with Harris. A car seen in security footage allegedly belonged to Harris’ mother.
On Feb. 24, a search warrant was obtained to download the contents of the phone. Contents were unable to be downloaded, but it showed the “name” for the cellphone was “Kwonster’s iPhone.” Verizon phone records allegedly showed the phone was in the area of the Break Time about 36 minutes before the incident.
