Two people have been charged after a neighbor allegedly discovered them stealing copper from a home in rural Platte County.

A man and young woman have been charged with breaking into a home on Second Creek Road in rural Platte County on March 21. Deric R. Wagner, 32, of Platte City and Kerstyn K. Rust, 17, of Platte City, face second degree burglary charges.

Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd in a news release said the pair were charged following an investigation by the Platte County Sheriff’s Department.

According to court documents, deputies responded on a call of possible trespassers in the 2600 block of Second Creek Road. The deputies allegedly found Wagner and Rust inside a home, stealing copper.

Deputies also recovered license plates that had previously been reported as stolen from an address in the 14000 block of Winan Road in Platte County, Missouri.

“The suspicious activity was called in by a neighbor,” said Platte County Sheriff Mark Owen. “Citizens reporting activity that is suspicious or that doesn’t look right is what helps law enforcement do our job.”

Wagner and Rust are both currently being held at the Platte County Detention Center in lieu of a $10,000 bond. If convicted, they each face up to seven years in prison.

A Gallatin woman is on her way back to Buchanan County to face a burglary charge after the processing of DNA evidence.

Linda Sue Pennell, 34 was charged last week with a felony of second-degree burglary stemming from an incident that took place in 2014.

In 2015, Pennell was sentenced to six years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for her guilty plea to a felony of theft/stealing.  She is currently being held in the Chillicothe Correctional Center.

According to court documents filed in connection with the new charge, Pennell is accused of taking part in a burglary in August of 2014 at a home located in the 3000 block of Olive St. in St. Joseph.

“The window and back door of the residence was forced open by unknown means.  Blood from the suspect was found inside the residence where items of value were stolen,” said Officer Jeff Pearl with the St. Joseph Police Department. “The DNA obtained from the blood evidence was processed and was a match for Linda Sue Helton-Pennell.”

Pennell is due in court in Buchanan County March 31 for an arraignment.

(Update) – Charges have been filed after another large drug bust in Andrew  County.

It’s the second drug seizure in two days.  According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, around 3 p.m. Thursday a trooper stopped a southbound 2017 Ford Fusion on I-29 at the 50 mile marker.  After a search of the vehicle 20 pounds of marijuana was discovered.

As we previously reported, on Wednesday, just three miles up the road a trooper searched a vehicle and found 47 pounds of marijuana.

In the latest bust, the patrol said the driver, Joseph Fartantonio, 29 of California was arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.  He has since been charged and is being held on $35,000 bail in the Andrew County Jail.

No court date was listed on online court documents Friday afternoon.

InterServ has officially turned the dirt on the construction of its new multi-million dollar Wesley Center.

A ground breaking ceremony was held Thursday at the corner of King Hill Ave. and Cherokee Street for the construction of the $5 million facility.  Dave Howery, InterServ Ex. Dir. said the project should be completed in about 18 months.

“Once they start the construction in the next few weeks on the property it will take about 13 to 18 months.  So mid-2018 is kind of where we’re at,” Howery said.

Designs for the new building include a gym, commons area, fitness and weight room and a food pantry.

“There will be sort of two fronts to it…and each will have a level entrance,” Howery said. “There will be a canopy where mobile meals drivers will pick up the meals.”

He said InterServ has played an important role in the community for more than 100 years and that the new center will allow that role to continue.  As we previously reported, fundraising for the facility started in 2015.  For more information concerning “Building InterServ” contact The InterServ Foundation at (816) 238-4511, ext. 222 or at www.theinterservfoundation.org.

Police are searching for two people after a patrol car was damage Thursday morning at a gas station in St. Joseph.

Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department said around 1:15 a.m. two patrol vehicles pulled up next to a vehicle at the Speedy’s on St. Joseph Ave.  Wilson said officers were trying to serve a warrant.

Wilson said the suspect vehicle backed out at a high rate of speed and into one of the patrol vehicles.  The suspect vehicle then allegedly left the parking lot and was last seen heading south on N. 4th St.  A woman was reported to have been driving the vehicle with a man in the passenger seat.

One officer received minor injuries but was not treated at the time of the incident.  The patrol vehicle received extensive front end damage.

Wilson said police have a person of interest and are not releasing a description at this time.  As of 12:30 p.m. officers had not yet located the vehicle or made an arrest.

A teenager in Andrew County is accused of making a threat at school and then attacking a deputy with a sword and an arrow.

Eion Andrew Coats, 17 of Bolckow is charged in Andrew County with a felony of second-degree assault, a felony of resisting arrest, a misdemeanor of institutional vandalism and a misdemeanor for third-degree terrorist threat.  The Andrew County Sheriff’s Office said Coats is a Junior at North Andrew High School.

According to court document, deputies with the Andrew County Sheriff’s Office responded to North Andrew School Tuesday regarding a vandalism on a white board in the boy’s locker room.  Deputy M.C. Donahoo said the words “DIE NA DIE” were found written on the damaged white board.

“I made contact with suspect Eion Andrew Coats at his Residence,” Donahoo said. “Coats had admitted to family members that he wrote the message and hit his head on the board.”

After advising Coats of his rights, Donahoo said the teenager became agitated and cursed when asked what the statement meant.  He said Coats took off running when he pulled out his handcuffs to detain him.

“Through the kitchen, up the stairs to a bedroom.  Upon entering the bedroom he grabbed a sword approximately 2-3 ft in length, pointed it at me, started towards me,” Donahoo said. “As he got near the doorway of his room he stopped.  I pulled my taser, told him to drop it.  He slammed the door.”

Donahoo said after he entered the room Coats no longer had the sword but refused to comply.

“I deployed my taser with no effect,” Donahoo said.  “I grabbed Eion’s right arm to place him in cuffs.  He continued to struggle and pull away.  I then grabbed Eion to take him to the floor.”

Donahoo said while on the floor Coats tried to head butt him.

“(He) then grabbed an arrow from an archery set, broke the arrow and was stabbing me in the left leg/thigh area,” Donahoo said.

The deputy said the arrow caused a small puncture wound about six inches below his left hip.

“Upon getting Eion in cuffs he continued to try to headbutt me, striking me once in the right shoulder.  I also had a cut on my left index finger and a cut on my left wrist,” Donahoo said. “Eion attempted several times to kick me during and after the struggle.”

Coats is being held on $100,000 bail.  A court date was not yet listed on online documents.

(9:54 a.m.) – Two people were injured in a crash Thursday morning on South Belt Highway.

Officer Scott Gary with the St. Joseph Police Department said a Mitsubishi was southbound on the Belt Highway and blew through a red light, crashing into a Toyota trying to turn left at Pear St.  The intersection was shutdown around 9:20 a.m. while crews were on scene. It has since reopened. The drivers of both vehicles around the age of 19 and 50, both St. Joseph residents were transported to Mosaic Life Care for treatment of what was described as minor injuries.

Gary said a ticket will likely be issued for running a red light.

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(9:30 a.m.) – A crash on South Belt Highway is impacting traffic.

Around 9:20 a.m. police issued an advisory warning drivers to avoid the intersection of S. Belt at Pear street due to a traffic incident.

Authorities had the intersection blocked off while crews were on scene. An ambulance and several police vehicles were in the area.

As we learn more information we will update this story.

A St. Joseph woman is accused of stealing credit card information to pay a utility bill while caring for an elderly client.

Ashley Garr, 32 is charged in Buchanan County with a felony of receiving stolen property.

According to court documents, in December Garr is accused of using an 86-year-old woman’s credit card information to pay for her own Missouri American Water Bill, totaling more than $1,000.

“Garr had contact with the victim at the victim’s residence prior to the fraudulent transaction,” said Det. Jeremy Peters with the St. Joseph Police Department.

Peters said the crime took place around the same time Garr was employed with InterServ.

“Her job duties involved taking care of elderly people,” Peters said. “Garr used the victim’s financial information fraudulently for financial gain while she was entrusted with taking care of the 86-year-old victim.”

In a statement, InterServ said it is aware of the allegations against the former employee and is cooperating with authorities in regards to the allegations.  The statement is as follows:

“InterServ administration was made aware of these allegations by the family of the InterServ In-Home Service client. Family members were assured that InterServ would cooperate fully with authorities in regards to the allegations. InterServ would like to reassure those who support our agency that the community interests we serve will continue to be put first in all that we do.”

Garr is due in court for an arraignment March 31.