Woman admits to committing arson in attempt to help boyfriend
In an odd attempt to help, Andrea Alexander, 37, set fire to the Washington County Circuit Courthouse second floor women’s bathroom to distract probation staff from drug testing her boyfriend on Oct. 24. After admitting to the arson, she was convicted and sentenced on Wednesday, Nov. 30 on one count of second-degree arson and second-degree criminal mischief.
Alexander is facing 15 days in jail, 18 months of probation and she must pay restitution of $1,200. The building was evacuated after filling with smoke, and no injuries were caused by the fire.
All stabbing suspects turn themselves in
As of Thursday, Dec. 1, all three suspects involved in a stabbing on Nov. 22 have turned themselves in. The first two, Roxana Simona Reed, 39, and Vincent Rodriguez, 31, turned themselves in on Monday Nov. 28 and immediately arrested.
On Thursday, Flavio Villa, 19, turned himself in to the Police station. Reed and Rodriguez have been charged with first degree assault. Villa has been charged with third-degree assault and first-degree burglary. The juvenile female that the three originally left with is home safe according to a police spokesperson.
Man arrested in bank robbery
After a slew of recent bank robberies, Brian Smith, 42, was arrested shortly after the robbery of a U.S. Bank branch in Springfield Friday afternoon. He was taken into custody on a charge of second-degree robbery and four counts of first-degree theft.
Smith had been approaching bank tellers with a note, demanding money and threatening to use a firearm before fleeing. Witnesses at two of the robberies recall seeing someone fleeing matching Smiths description. FBI and local police are continuing their investigation.
Suspect runs into path of moving traffic
A suspected purse snatcher ran into the side of a moving truck in an attempt to flee the scene.  Jona­than Kithcart, 31 was arrested on charges third-degree robbery, fourth-degree assault and third-degree theft.
According to police, Kithcart wrestled a purse away from a woman on the 2100 block of Olympic Street in Springfield around 4 p.m. on Wednesday Nov. 30. He then ran away, attempting to cross the street but instead running into the vehicle and falling to the ground. He was taken to the hospital with injuries sustained from hitting the ground.