POPLAR BLUFF POLICE INVESTIGATING SHOOTING INCIDENTAn investigation is ongoing in a shooting incident that occurred over the weekend in Poplar Bluff.
Detective Josh Stewart with the Poplar Bluff Police Department spoke with us about the investigation.
JOSH STEWART:
On Saturday at approximately 9:30 p.m. officers were dispatched to the area of 412 Harper Street regarding multiple gunshots being fired. Upon arriving in the area, officers made contact with the victim, Moenika Ellis and were advised that three armed male subjects entered her residence demanding money. Two of the male subject subsequently began assaulting her boyfriend while a third advanced into the residence. Miss Ellis retrieved a firearm from her bedroom and begin discharging te firearm at one of the male subjects. This male subject returned fire as Miss Ellis fled back into the bedroom. At that point all three male subjects fled the residents on the foot. The residence was occupied by Miss Ellis, her boyfriend, and her three children, ages nine, seven, and five. After processing the scene there were nine shell casings located. Seven of which were determined to be from the suspects firearm and two of which were determined to be from Miss Ellis’s firearm. At this point the suspects have not been identified and we are seeking leads at this time. We’re going to be doing an area canvas and attempt to locate additional leads and possible additional witnesses. In the event that the suspects are identified and located, we will be seeking charges of assault first, armed criminal action, unlawful use of weapon, robbery 1st, and endangering welfare of a child.
We also spoke with Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley, who says that some DNA evidence found at the scene could aid in the investigation.
DANNY WHITELEY:
I'm grateful and I think only God's intervention kept somebody from getting shot in this melee that happened. It amazes me that one of the victims, I feel probably knows for sure who the suspects were and why they won't come forward is disappointing but we're going to actively pursue this until we can come to a conclusion and identify the suspects in this shooting. We also are going to be lucky enough; we'll have some DNA evidence off of the shell casings which may lead to further arrests. If anybody has any further information there's certainly a possibility of a reward if we can identify and prosecute the suspects in this case just call the Poplar Bluff Police Department 785-5776.
DEXTER MAN FOUND NOT GUILTY OF ATTEMPTED MURDER A Dexter man has been found not guilty on multiple charges including attempted murder.
A jury found Christopher Hicks not guilty on charges of attempted murder, armed criminal action, burglary, and arson. He had been accused of being involved in a murder for hire plot in January of 2013.
Donald Lafferty was previously sentenced to 50 years in prison in connection to the incident.
BUTLER COUNTY ROAD WORK SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEK Route HH in Butler County will be reduced to one lane this week while Missouri Department of Transportation crews seal coat the roadway.
The section of road to be reduced is located from Route 53 to County Road 350.
Work will take place today through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
THREE ARRESTED IN CONNETION TO ALLEGED ASSAULT IN POPLAR BLUFF Officials say three people have been taken into custody in Poplar Bluff following an alleged assault over the weekend.
According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, on Saturday a man told officers that he had been assaulted by multiple subjects and his cell phone was stolen. The victim suffered a broken nose in the assault.
During the investigation, officers learned that some of the subjects involved were also involved in a leaving the scene of an accident situation.
We spoke with Sergeant Darron Moore about the incident.
DARRON MOORE:
On Saturday evening around 7:30 officers responded to the area of C and Sycamore in reference to an assault. Officers located the victim Randy Foster, who said he was assaulted by four suspects in a white Ford Crown Victoria. Within a few moments Officer Billy Duckett located the suspect vehicle and conducted a traffic stop at the corner of C and Sycamore. During the investigation it was determined the driver of the suspect vehicle hadn't taken part in the assault and had picked up the suspects earlier as they fled from the scene of a motor vehicle accident which occurred at the corner of Mill and spring. The accident was determined to have occurred when the driver, identified as Jennifer Scarlett, accelerated driving and careless and imprudent manner. She lost control and struck a utility pole. Scarlett and the occupants of the vehicle fled the scene of the accident prior to officer’s arrival. During the investigation it was learned a five-year-old female was in the vehicle at the time of the accident. The child sustained a minor head injury as a result of the accident. Witnesses at the scene confirmed the child was not restrained in a child safety seat at the time. The child’s parents, Daryl and Jennifer Scarlett, were both arrested for endangering the welfare of a child due to their failure to seek medical attention for the child after fleeing the scene of the accident. Jennifer Scarlett was also arrested on a charge of leaving the scene of an accident, first-degree property damage, as well as assaulting an officer while receiving medical attention at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Doth Jennifer and Darryl Scarlett, along with Dorothy Mae Neeley, were charged in the assault of Randy Foster. Daryl Scarlett was also charged for resisting arrest and assaulting an officer during the booking process.
DEPUTY HIT BY THROWN KNIFE DURING ARREST ATTEMPT A Dunklin County Deputy was reportedly hit by a thrown knife during an arrest attempt on Sunday.
According to authorities, deputies were attempting to arrest Robert Edwards, of Stoddard County, when he threw a knife that struck one of the deputies in the arm.
Edwards was tased by the other deputy and taken into custody on charges including assault of a law enforcement officer, armed criminal action, and burglary.
The deputy was taken to an area hospital for treatment and has since been released.
RIPLEY COUNTY ROAD TO BE CLOSED FOR ASPHALT OVERLAY Crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation will be in Ripley County today for a project on Route W.
During the partial asphalt overlay, Route W will be closed, except for local traffic only, between Route 142 and the Missouri State Line. Work will take place both today and tomorrow from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
