St Joseph police arrested a man Monday morning who they believe was breaking into cars.

Based on police radio traffic, the man was caught in the act by a passerby who called police. An officer deployed a taser during the arrest of the suspect in or near the 1500 block of Frederick.

Police Sergeant Brett Kelly tells us at least three cars were affected, although it’s not clear if property was stolen from all of them. In at least one case, nothing was taken.

It appears from radio traffic that the suspect may have taken a saw and a ratchet set, a set of jumper cables, and a lot of change. That investigation continues. No charges have been filed.

As part of an effort to reduce injuries and fatalities area troopers will be taking part in C.A.R.E. Life Saver weekend.

Captain James E. McDonald, commanding officer of Troop H, St. Joseph, announced last week that Troop H officers will be participating in the C.A.R.E. Life Saver weekend from December 18, 2015, through December 21, 2015.  During that time frame enforcement will be increased in an effort to stop motorists from driving impaired this holiday season and to reduce injury and deaths caused by impaired drivers.

“The holiday season is a time to celebrate with friends and family.  If those celebrations include alcohol be sure to have a sober designated driver,” McDonald said. ” No one should have to endure losing a loved one during the holiday season.”

St. Joseph was recently recognized in many categories in Southern Business & Development magazine’s “2015 Best of Economic Development in Missouri” list.

The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce announced Friday that St. Joseph was featured in the following categories: Best Small Town Manufacturing Locations in Missouri; Best Small Towns to Live in Missouri; Best Advanced Food Manufacturing Locations in Missouri; and Missouri’s Best Local Economic Development Agencies.

The lists were compiled by votes from Southern Business & Development’s Roundtable, which includes a dozen current and former Secretaries of Commerce of Southern states in SEDR, along with educators, economists, consultants and local economic developers.

“We very much consider this an important accomplishment to be named on these lists from Southern Business & Development magazine,” said R. Patt Lilly, President and CEO of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. “Appearing on these lists demonstrates that St. Joseph as a community is getting national recognition for the many positive things happening here. “

The Chamber said 2015 has been a successful year for economic development in St. Joseph. Some of the project announcements include:
Daily’s Premium Meats – The meat processing company is building a new 100,000 square foot facility and will hire 212 employees during its first five years of operation. This is a capital investment of $41.5 million to $46.5 million.

Sealed Air will invest $45 million and create that will pay in excess of $20 an hour.

F&H Food Equipment purchased 2 acres in Eastowne Business Park and began construction on an 8,000 square foot building with an estimated capital investment of $817,000.

Appearing in Southern Business & Development magazine follows other recognition that St. Joseph and the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce has received in 2015. Forbes magazine ranked St. Joseph as the fourth strongest farming and agribusiness region in the country in June. The St. Joseph Chamber was named Chamber of the Year by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry in November.

The St. Joseph School District said employees could be working longer hours over the next several days trying to compile paperwork for the newest subpoena in an ongoing FBI investigation, but this time it’s just pertaining to one of the district’s programs.

A seventh grand jury subpoena was received but the St. Joseph School District Monday morning.  This time, the district only has until 9 a.m. Tuesday to produce the documents for review

“Something interesting is the fact that it’s some of the same request that we received in subpoenas in 2014 and the issue is making sure that we submit any and all records,” said Dr. Robert Newhart, Superintendent.  “We’re doing the best we can we have four different groups going at it right now and again we fully intend to comply.”

The latest request is for additional documents is pertaining to just one program in the district however, Newhart decline to comment on which program other than that it is a federal program due to the ongoing investigation.

“What I think they’re trying to do it making sure everything is matching up in prior requests on information,” Newhart said. “In my own determination in trying to piece things together, maybe, I do believe there is a question of variances in what we supplied and what have been previously supplied and they’re wanting to just double check to make sure we submit any and all information as required by the subpoena.”

Due to the short turnaround time on the newest request Newhart said there is potential staff could be working extra hours this weekend.

“Some of the prior subpoena requests that I’ve been involved with have been a lengthier period of time to allow us to collect the information,” Newhart said.

 

 

A seventh subpoena has been received by the St. Joseph School District is an ongoing FBI investigation.

The district said it received the newest request from the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri Friday morning.

“This request is for additional documentation pertaining to a program with the St. Joseph School District,” said Dr. Robert Newhart, Superintendent. “As we have stated before, we want this investigation to be as thorough as possible. The district will do whatever it takes to fully comply with each and every request for information. While we understand the frustration that this continues to be ongoing, we want to make sure all our policies, procedures and programs are thoroughly examined so our district is stronger than ever before. We owe that to our students, staff and community.”

Newhart plans to address the media at 1 p.m. to talk about the latest subpoena.

Preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board yield little information as to why a plane went down in northwest Missouri earlier this week.

Kenny Stoner of Rideway was reported to be flying solo in the Cessna 182C single-engine airplane when it went down in terrain near Pattonsburg Sunday. Stoner died in the crash and the plane was destroyed.

The airplane left the Northwest Missouri Regional Airport in Maryville around 3:50 p.m. Sunday and was destined for the Bethany Memorial Airport in Bethany but never made it. The report said the crash took place around 4:30 p.m., less than an hour after its observed departure.

According to local authorities, the pilot was planning a flight to Bethany after picking up his airplane from a completed annual inspection. There were no recorded communications between the pilot and air traffic control services.

Preliminary findings of the examination of the accident site revealed the airplane impacted in wooded terrain. All major components of the airplane were located at the accident site. Tree impacts and damage to the airplane were consistent with a nose low, near vertical impact.

It took nearly two days for search crews to find the wreckage location. Local search and rescue crews found it around 9 a.m. on Dec. 8th. The report said the emergency locator transmitter was found destroyed during an examination of the site.

A St. Joseph man is facing several felony charges in connection with the shooting death of a man found in a Felix St. home earlier this week.

Scott L. Hollandsworth, 36 of St. Joseph was charged Thursday in Buchanan County with a class B felony of voluntary manslaughter and a felony for armed criminal action.

According to court documents Hollandsworth got into a verbal altercation with Shawn M. Martin, 33 of St. Joseph on Monday which turned physical.

“While the two subjects were in the physical altercation the suspect struck the victim in the head with an object,” Officer Greg Ogdahl with the St. Joseph Police Department said in a sworn probable cause statement. “While the two subjects were in the physical altercation the suspect struck the victim in the head with an object. The suspect then shot the victim at least one time causing fatal injuries to the victim.”

As we previously reported, police found Martin dead in a bathroom of the home located in the 1500 block of Felix St. Autopsy results indicate that Martin died as a result of a gunshot wound.

Hollandsworth turned himself into the Riverside Police Department Wednesday evening after being wanted for questioning in the investigation for more than a day.

“He ran from the scene of a shooting and was unable to be located for at least two days,” Ogdahl said.

Hollandsworth is scheduled for an arraignment Tuesday.

The prosecutor’s office said the class B felony of voluntary manslaughter carries a range of punishment from 5-15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, Count II alleges the felony of armed criminal action has a range of punishment from to minimum of 3 years to an unlimited number of years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

A second man, 58-year-old Joel Clark of St. Joseph was taken into custody Monday evening at the same time police responded to the home on Felix Street and charged Tuesday with a misdemeanor for unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. Court documents said Clark is a potential witness in the homicide investigation.

More than 700 families are asking for help this Christmas from the AFL-CIO Community Service’s Adopt-A-Family program.

The agency said after all of the applications were entered the tally stands at 789 families composed of 2,472 individuals.  That number is down slightly from 2014.

Last year there were 868 families who applied composed of 2,791 individuals.

As of Wednesday evening more than half had already been adopted but 339 families were still in need of some extra help this Christmas.

“Most of them try their best to manage their finances to make it day-to-day but to find extra dollars to purchase Christmas gifts is near impossible for them,” said Penny Adams, AFL-CIO Community Services Dir. “We will continue working through Christmas eve to get all the families adopted.”

Adams said the agency located at 1203 N. 6th St. is open 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday and 9 to 1 on Saturdays.

For information on how to adopt call (816) 364-1131.

The man wanted by police for questioning in a homicide investigation in St. Joseph has turned himself into police custody.

St. Joseph Police Department Capt. Jeff Wilson said Wednesday that 36-year-old Scott Lee Hollandsworth has turned himself into the Riverside Police Department.

On Tuesday, detectives let the public know of the search for Hollandsworth as a person of interest in connection with the shooting death of 33-year-old Shawn M. Martin of St. Joseph.  Police said Martin was found dead in a bathroom of a home located in the 1500 block of Felix St. Monday evening. Autopsy results indicate that gunshot wound is the cause of death.

 

58-year-old Joel Clark of St. Joseph was taken into custody Monday evening at the same time police responded to the home on Felix Street and charged Tuesday with a misdemeanor for unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. Court documents said Clark is a potential witness in the homicide investigation.

The case is still under investigation.

The St. Joseph Police Department has identified the victim of Monday’s homicide investigation.

Shawn M. Martin, 33 of St. Joseph has been identified as the man who was killed Monday evening at a home in the 1500 block of Felix St.

Police responded to a call of shots fired around 9 p.m. Monday to find Martin dead in a bathroom at the home. Capt. Jeff Wilson said autopsy results indicate that gunshot wound is the cause of death.

As of 1:30 Wednesday detectives were still searching for Scott Lee Hollandsworth, 33 as a person of interest in connection with the investigation. Hollandsworth is described by police as a white

man around 5’11, 160 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. Police said he should be considered dangerous and possibly armed.

Anyone with information as to Hollandsworth’s whereabouts is asked to contact police at (816) 271-4777 or the TIPS hotline at (816) 238-TIPS.

Joel Clark, 58 of St. Joseph was taken into custody Monday evening at the same time police responded to the home on Felix Street and charged Tuesday with a misdemeanor for unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. Court documents said Clark is a potential witness in the homicide.