The Springfield Police Department, the Greene County Sheriff’s Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol conducted Operation Safe Ride over the weekend in response to the rise in fatal motorcycle crashes.
Officers made a total of 214 total vehicle stops, resulting in 16 arrests, including 5 for intoxicated driving.
The Springfield Police also issued 13 citations and 32 warnings during the operation.
More Operation Safe Rides are planned for this year.
From a news release:
In the early morning hours of Friday, May 19, 2023, Branson Police Officers responded to an ATM alarm at Branson Bank, located at 4675 Gretna Rd. The officers discovered the suspects had stolen a vehicle at a local apartment complex and used it to force open the ATM resulting in the theft of over $36,000 in cash and over $60,000 worth of damage. Police attribute teamwork and quick investigative work that led to the out-of-state arrests the same day as the crime.
Over the course of the investigation, detectives discovered a group of suspects out of the Houston, Texas area who were involved in similar crimes across the nation. Further investigation identified a rental car of interest. Branson Police coordinated with the rental car company and other law enforcement jurisdictions to determine the location of car and to initiate the stopping of the vehicle. The suspected vehicle was safely stopped in Texas on May 19, where law enforcement found a large amount of cash and the four suspects who Police believe committed the Branson crime, two of which had felony warrants for their arrests, one of which for a similar crime in the Chicago, Illinois area.
Arrested were:
Deaunjae Kayvonne Lampkins, 22, of the Houston, TX region.
Vinson Eeshawn Gonzales, 23, of the Houston, TX region
Nathaniel Cameron Waits, 23, of the Houston, TX region.
Bryce Malik Jones, 26, of the Houston, TX region.
“I am very proud of the excellent and expedited work of our officers that led to the arrest of these suspects within hours of the crimes in Branson,” said Branson Police Chief, Eric Schmitt. “This case highlights our Department’s dedication and serves as notice to those considering committing crimes here. While Branson has a ‘small town’ atmosphere, the Police Department has the capabilities and drive to successfully pursue and apprehend criminals, wherever they may flee,” said Chief Schmitt.
The Branson Police Department expresses its appreciation to the other agencies and entities that assisted with this investigation, especially to the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center, Avis Car Rental and the Montgomery County, TX, Sheriff’s Office who were all vital to the successful apprehension of these suspects.
The Cassville Police Department is searching for a doctor who was reported missing after not showing up to work.
Authorities say 49-year-old John Forsyth was last seen early Sunday morning.
He works at Mercy Hospital, but didn’t show up for his shift on Sunday.
Once he was reported as missing, police investigated, finding his car abandoned at a park in Cassville.
Officers describe for Forsyth as 5’11”, 180 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.
He was last seen wearing a black shirt and blue/gray pants.
If you have any information about Forsyth’s whereabouts, including where he is or where he may be going, contact Cassville Police at (417) 847-3121.
The Highway Patrol says a motorcyclist has died following a pursuit with law enforcement in Polk County.
Troopers say Jordan Langdon, who was 28, failed to yield at an intersection on Highway 215 West of Pleasant Hope Saturday night and hit another vehichle.
Langdon died at the scene. The other driver was not injured.
Springfield City Council will discuss applying for a grant to combat youth homelessness at Monday night’s meeting.
The grant is from the Department of Housing and Urban Devlopment. It’s based on the number of people between the ages of 12 and 24 who are in poverty in Greene, Christian, and Webster Counties.
Springfield has applied for the grant every year since 2017, but has not been awarded it.
From a news release:
Today, during a press conference at the City of St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office in Carnahan Courthouse, Governor Mike Parson announced that he has selected attorney Gabriel (Gabe) Gore as the next City of St. Louis Circuit Attorney. Mr. Gore is tentatively set to be sworn in Monday, May 29.
“Today is a new day that allows us to recommit ourselves to a stronger judicial system in the City of St. Louis, and we appreciate Mr. Gore for answering the call to serve his community,” Governor Parson said. “Crime anywhere affects Missourians everywhere, and for too long dysfunction has plagued the Circuit Attorney’s Office. Mr. Gore has shown he is a strong manager, talented attorney, proud community leader, and even prouder husband and father who is ready to work hard and be a leader for the people of St. Louis.”
Mr. Gore has served as a partner at Dowd Bennett LLP since 2010 and has more than 23 years experience in private law practice. Before moving to the private sector, Mr. Gore served as a member of the Office of Special Counsel John C. Danforth’s Waco Investigation, tried federal prosecutions as an Assistant U.S. Attorney – serving as a member of the Organized Crime Drug Task Force and Violent Crime Unit -, and clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Mr. Gore is a member of the St. Louis Community Foundation, Forest Park Forever Board of Directors, Missouri Supreme Court Advisory Committee, and Missouri State University Board of Governors. He was also appointed by former Governor Jay Nixon to serve on the Ferguson Commission. Mr. Gore has earned Ingram’s Top 50 Missourians You Should Know recognition, the St. Louis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award, and the Distinguished Service Award from the U.S. Department of Justice. He was also named in the National Black Lawyers Top 100.
Mr. Gore earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Missouri State University, where he was a track and cross-country athlete. He then attended the University of Chicago Law School where he received his Juris Doctor.
“We appreciate the candid conversations we’ve had with local leaders to inform our decision, and we’re proud to present a united front in supporting a successful tenure for Mr. Gore as Circuit Attorney,” Governor Parson said. “Mr. Gore lives in St. Louis, works in St. Louis, and has raised his family in St. Louis, and we know he wants to do right by the people who do the same in this City. He has a tall task ahead of him, but we know he is the right man at the right time to restore trust in the Circuit Attorney’s Office.”
Per state statute, Mr. Gore will serve out the remainder of the current Circuit Attorney term, which ends on January 1, 2025. Until Mr. Gore is sworn in, Governor Parson’s General Counsel, Evan Rodriguez, will continue to serve as Interim Circuit Attorney.
From a news release:
Today, during a press conference at the City of St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office in Carnahan Courthouse, Governor Mike Parson announced that he has selected attorney Gabriel (Gabe) Gore as the next City of St. Louis Circuit Attorney. Mr. Gore is tentatively set to be sworn in Monday, May 29.
“Today is a new day that allows us to recommit ourselves to a stronger judicial system in the City of St. Louis, and we appreciate Mr. Gore for answering the call to serve his community,” Governor Parson said. “Crime anywhere affects Missourians everywhere, and for too long dysfunction has plagued the Circuit Attorney’s Office. Mr. Gore has shown he is a strong manager, talented attorney, proud community leader, and even prouder husband and father who is ready to work hard and be a leader for the people of St. Louis.”
Mr. Gore has served as a partner at Dowd Bennett LLP since 2010 and has more than 23 years experience in private law practice. Before moving to the private sector, Mr. Gore served as a member of the Office of Special Counsel John C. Danforth’s Waco Investigation, tried federal prosecutions as an Assistant U.S. Attorney – serving as a member of the Organized Crime Drug Task Force and Violent Crime Unit -, and clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Mr. Gore is a member of the St. Louis Community Foundation, Forest Park Forever Board of Directors, Missouri Supreme Court Advisory Committee, and Missouri State University Board of Governors. He was also appointed by former Governor Jay Nixon to serve on the Ferguson Commission. Mr. Gore has earned Ingram’s Top 50 Missourians You Should Know recognition, the St. Louis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award, and the Distinguished Service Award from the U.S. Department of Justice. He was also named in the National Black Lawyers Top 100.
Mr. Gore earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Missouri State University, where he was a track and cross-country athlete. He then attended the University of Chicago Law School where he received his Juris Doctor.
“We appreciate the candid conversations we’ve had with local leaders to inform our decision, and we’re proud to present a united front in supporting a successful tenure for Mr. Gore as Circuit Attorney,” Governor Parson said. “Mr. Gore lives in St. Louis, works in St. Louis, and has raised his family in St. Louis, and we know he wants to do right by the people who do the same in this City. He has a tall task ahead of him, but we know he is the right man at the right time to restore trust in the Circuit Attorney’s Office.”
Per state statute, Mr. Gore will serve out the remainder of the current Circuit Attorney term, which ends on January 1, 2025. Until Mr. Gore is sworn in, Governor Parson’s General Counsel, Evan Rodriguez, will continue to serve as Interim Circuit Attorney.
The National Weather Service says severe thunderstorms are not expected with the latest round of rain coming Friday afternoon and evening.
Forecasters say to expect thunder and lightning, but conditions are not favorable for any large hail or damaging winds.
Rainfall amounts throughout Southwest Missouri should range from a quarter to three quarters of an inch with some localized amounts up to one inch.
The Taney County prosecuting attorney has died.
According to the prosecuting attorney’s Facebook page, William “Dub” Duston has died after a battle with cancer.
He was 49.
Duston was the Branson City Attorney and Prosecutor from 2006 to 2018.
He is survived by his wife and two children.
No arrangements have been made yet.
There are injuries involving both students and staff following a crash involving a Bolivar School District bus Thursday afternoon.
The crash happened around 2:00 p.m. on Highway 13 near 490th Road.
We’ve had reports of southbound traffic on 13 being shut down in the area, with nearly a half dozen ambulances on scene.
The latest information from the Bolivar School District is below, via the district’s Facebook page.
UPDATE AT 2:55 PM: We are working on transporting non-injured students to Bolivar Schools Central Office for reunification with their parents. We have notified the parents of the students who have been transported to the hospital. Please work with us as we navigate this situation and get students reunified with their families.
UPDATE AT 2:30 PM: The two third-grade classes on board were Gibson and Kropf and staff members. Some students and staff are being transported to the hospital for care. We are working on notifying the families of the injured students. Re-unification with non-injured students will be at our Central Office at 524 W Madison Street.
This afternoon, one of our buses was involved in an accident on Highway 13 on the way home from a third-grade field trip. There are reported injuries to some students and staff. First responders are on the scene and attending to the situation. They are in control of the scene and helping direct next steps. We will provide more updates as we get more information.