On Monday, April 29^th, 2013, just before 7:00 p.m., the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of property damage at a residence northwest of Columbus.

Upon the deputies’ arrival, it was discovered that the homeowner had been burglarized, with a chainsaw, tools and other items reported stolen.

A short time later, the Columbus Police Department was conducting an investigation regarding a trailer, which had been reported stolen from within the city limits.

Just prior to 8:00 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a home northeast of Columbus, to a report that a suspicious person, asking for transmission fluid, had struck the property owners vehicle.

When the deputy arrived, the person fled in a 2000 Chevy Truck, hauling a trailer.

The suspect got the vehicle stuck in a field and fled on foot.

A short foot pursuit ensued and the deputy detained the suspect, who was identified as Carl Michael Chew, 31, of Neosho, Missouri.

Chew had outstanding warrants for his arrest in the State of Missouri, and the investigation determined that the Chevy truck had been reported stolen in Joplin at approximately 2:00 p.m., earlier Monday.

In addition, the trailer was identified as the same one stolen from Columbus.

Law enforcement is still processing and cataloguing a significant amount of suspected stolen property, which was found in the vehicle.

Chew is being held in the Cherokee County Jail on the following outstanding warrants from Vernon County, Missouri:

• Burglary – 2 counts
• 2^nd Degree Robbery
• Criminal Damage to Property
• Knowingly Burning or Exploding
• Felony Theft
• Felony Theft of a Firearm
• 1^st Degree Tampering of a Motor Vehicle

The total bonds for these cases are $125,000.00 cash only and an additional $10,000.00 cash or bond.

Chew is being held in lieu of $48,000.00 bond for allegedly committing the following crimes in Cherokee County:

• Residential Burglary
• Possession of Stolen Property
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm
• Felony Obstruction
• Criminal Damage to Property – 2 counts

As the investigation continues, additional charges in Cherokee County, and Joplin, Missouri are anticipated.