Month: April 2023

Police in Springfield have a man in custody, who allegedly threatened a gas station with an AR-15.

21-year-old Ethan Jones was arrested Thursday, March 6th, at a gas station on North National Avenue.

Investigators say the call came in at around 2 a.m. with reports of Jones threatening people in the gas station.

Officers responded to the area, where they detained Jones and another man. When he was searched, police discovered the AR-15 style pistol in his waistband.

Prosecutors say Jones is facing charges of unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action.

He has pleaded not guilty to his charges and will be due in court on April 10th for a criminal setting hearing.

One man is dead after Greene County Sheriff’s deputies shot him while arresting a woman between 8 and 9 am Wednesday morning, April 7th.

Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott says that deputies responded to a “check person” call at a convenience store on West Sunshine Street just after 8 am in regards to a woman who reportedly frequently steals from the establishment. Deputies tracked the woman to a nearby illegal transient encampment, where they arrested her.

While arresting the woman, a man who had been hidden in the encampment revealed that he was holding a gun, and held it to his head saying “just shoot me.” The man then lunged at the deputies, and was shot.

An investigation into the incident is being conducted, and the two involved deputies were put on leave.

The Taney County Sheriff’s Department says two-year-old Kashton Plott and one-year-old Jaxon Plott were last seen in the Hollister area on Monday.

Law enforcement believes the children may be with their mother, Kristina “Kat” Knoshaug, who may be driving a 2014 maroon Nissan Murano.

If you have any information on their whereabouts, you are asked to contact the Taney County Sheriff’s Office at 417-546-7250.

The Mill Pond Bridge is receiving much needed reconstruction in a very strange way.

Construction crews spent Thursday morning lifted the structure off of the Finley River, moving it to a nearby road to be restored.

Officials say the 100-year-old bridge has been damaged due to repeated flooding, more traffic and heavier cars traveling across it.

The repairs include reinforcing the bridge, repainting it, among others.

City officials believe the construction will allow for the bridge to be continually used for years to come without risk to those using it.

The restoration is expected to take several months to complete.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is throwing his name in the ring to become the next Governor of the state in 2024.

Ashcroft, who will be a Republican nominee, has been Secretary of State since 2017.

He is the son of former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, who served as Governor of Missouri for eight years from 1985-1993.

Ashcroft’s campaign and political action committee (PAC) have already raised over $2 million for his candidacy.

In a press release Thursday, Ashcroft said, “Missouri stands at a crossroads. Red states like Florida, Texas, Tennessee, even Indiana, and Arkansas have become examples of conservative leadership while Missouri Republicans, who control every statewide office and have supermajorities in both chambers of the legislature, have failed to deliver. I’m running to change that.”

He joins State Senator Bill Eigel and Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe as candidates for the 2024 Governor’s race.

Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Director Kris Inman has announced his retirement, effective July 17. 

Inman, a 28-year 9-1-1 employee, became director of the department in May 2020. He joined 9-1-1 in 1994 as a telecommunicator. He was promoted to the position of acting supervisor/certified trainer in 1997, to supervisor in 2003 and to training and education manager in 2012, serving in that role for eight years before being named director. 

“Kris has done a terrific job leading the Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 function,” said City Manager Jason Gage. “He brought a positive approach and tremendous energy! Kris will definitely be missed, and we wish him the very best.”

Inman’s accomplishments include implementing the department’s first career-laddering positions, a state-of-the-art employee gym and one of the state’s first next-generation 9-1-1 projects.

Inman has also served as an adjunct instructor for Missouri State University, teaching public speaking. He has a bachelor of science degree in electronic media and a master of arts in communication, both from MSU. He is also a certified yoga instructor and led classes for 9-1-1 staff over the last year.

“It has been the absolute honor of my professional lifetime to get to lead this staff for the last three years,” Inman said. “9-1-1 employees are public safety professionals of the highest order, doing one of the most difficult and underappreciated jobs that you can possibly do. And they do it exceptionally well, regardless of the circumstances.”

“I’ve been with the department just shy of 29 years, and am a true ‘son of the city.’ I literally grew up in this department. The people here and their public service mission will always be a part of who I am and what I do next.”

Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 Emergency Communications dispatches for 13 fire agencies and nine law enforcement agencies:

• Ash Grove Fire Protection District
• Battlefield Fire Protection District
• Bois D’Arc Fire Protection District
• Brookline Fire Protection District
• Ebenezer Fire Protection District
• Fair Grove Fire Protection District
• Logan-Rogersville Fire Protection District
• Republic Fire Department
• Springfield Fire Department
• Strafford Fire Protection District
• Walnut Grove Fire Protection District
• West Republic Fire Protection District
• Willard Fire Protection District
• Ash Grove Police Department
• Battlefield Police Department
• Fair Grove Police Department
• Greene County Sheriff’s Office
• Republic Police Department
• Springfield Police Department
• Strafford Police Department
• Walnut Grove Police Department
• Willard Police Department. 

In addition, Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 Emergency Communications receives the initial 9-1-1 calls for medical assistance that are transferred to CoxHealth or Mercy Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for dispatch. 

Inman’s position will be posted by mid-April. 

A man from Springfield will spend several years in prison for his involvement in a drive-by shooting.

Investigators say 34-year-old Cartevion Chapman was the alleged target of a shooting on December 4, 2020, when his vehicle was shot.

Following the initial shooting, Chapman and two other defendants, Darris Mull and Nicholas Caliogne, planned and executed a retaliatory shooting on December 6.

Police described the December 6 shooting by saying “bullets went flying”, and sprayed the neighbor with bullets.

Chapman pleaded guilty to charges of illegal possession of a firearm and was sentenced to nine years and seven months in prison.

Mull and Caliogne have pleaded guilty to their charges, but have not been sentenced.