A St. Joseph man has been charged after allegedly running from officers and hiding in a home in midtown in an attempt to resist arrest.

Jonathan Ashler, 29 is charged in Buchanan County with a felony for resisting arrest.

According to a probable cause statement on Wednesday around 7 p.m. an officer with the St. Joseph Police Department tried to make contact with Ashler at the Speedy’s Convenience Store located in the 1700 block of Mitchell Ave in reference to a warrant for his arrest.

“Jonathan fled from officers but was later located inside of a residence and was found to be hiding next to a bed,” said Det. Doug Howard with the SJPD. “Officers had to struggle with Jonathan to get him into custody as he continued to resist.”

Howard said a window to the home located in the 1000 block of S. 15th was broke and one officer’s uniform was torn during the struggle.

“Even when officers were attempting to place Jonathan into the patrol car he continued to resist and would not get into the patrol car,” Howard said. “The defendant is known to abuse drugs and known to be armed and dangerous.”

Ashler is being held on $10,000 cash bail.  An arraignment is set for July 1.

(News Release) BURLTINGTON JUNCTION, Mo. – The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Kansas City Area Office has opened an investigation into a report that two employees of PAR Electrical Contractors Inc., headquartered in Kansas City, were injured while replacing an electrical power pole near State Hwy PP and 215th Street west of Burlington Junction, Missouri, on June 23.

Preliminary information provided by the Nodaway Country Sheriff’s Office stated the electrical workers were injured at approximately 11:30 a.m. when the pole they were working on contacted overhead power lines. The two workers were transported by helicopter to different hospitals, one in Kansas City, Kansas, the other in Omaha, Nebraska. Both employees remain hospitalized for treatment.

“Electrical power distribution work poses deadly hazards to employees and our investigation will determine if any violations of OSHA standards contributed to this incident,” said Todd Sieleman, OSHA’s Acting Area Director in Kansas City. “These types of preventable events occur too often. This is the second incident this week our office is investigating of workers being injured by power lines.”

It’s the second investigation OSHA has opened this week in northwest Missouri after employees were injured while working on power lines.  As we previously reported, an investigation was opened was workers were injured in Union Star earlier this week.

Paul Belding, 27, appeared before Associate Judge Rebecca Spencer Friday morning. Belding is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Richard Gray, 77, of St Joseph June 18. Police say Gray was seriously injured trying to prevent Belding from stealing his van from the U.S. Oil convenience store at 22nd and Messanie. He died later at Mosaic Life Care.

Judge Spencer scheduled a preliminary hearing July 8. Bail was set earlier at $150,000 cash. Belding remains in custody in the Buchanan County Jail.

Missouri Western’s Board of Governors has approved salary increase for faculty and staff and the expansion of its athletic programs.

The operating budget for 2016-2017 totals approximately $53.3 million, up slightly from the current year’s estimated budget of nearly $53 million. The auxiliary budget totals approximately $11.6 million, down from the current year’s estimated budget of almost $13 million. Both budgets include a 2 percent wage and salary increase for faculty and staff.

Both budgets are affected by an anticipated drop in enrollment this fall reducing tuition and fees. By attaining five of five performance funding measures, the University will receive a 4 percent increase in state appropriations for the 2017 fiscal year which will help to offset the drop in the operating budget. Both budgets will rely on reserve spending in the coming year.

The Board also approved the addition of six new sports to Missouri Western’s athletics program: men’s and women’s indoor track and field, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field, and men’s and women’s cross country. The sports would begin competing in 2017-2018.

The addition of the six sports involves funding 18 scholarships and hiring a head coach, assistant coach and three graduate assistants. Because NCAA Division II relies on a partial-scholarship model to administer athletics-based financial aid, the additional expenses are projected to be offset by the increase in tuition and fee revenue from up to 70 additional student-athletes.

The board also approved additional scholarships for two existing programs: women’s soccer will add 2.5 scholarships, and baseball will add 2.1, bringing both up to the NCAA Division II maximum (9.9 for women’s soccer, 9 for baseball). The additional scholarships are projected to bring in an additional 15 student-athletes.