Missouri Student Accused in Theft From Cruiser

June 30, 2011

Early Saturday morning, a Columbia police officer arrested a 21- year-old University of Missouri student found walking along Range Line Street with a police dashboard computer.

Early Saturday morning, a Columbia police officer arrested a 21- year-old University of Missouri student found walking along Range Line Street with a police dashboard computer.

Around 4:30 a.m., the officer observed Drew C. Decker of 907 Huntridge Drive walking northbound near Vandiver Drive holding an object that resembled a Columbia police mobile data terminal, said Officer Latisha Stroer. The officer stopped to investigate further and determined it was police property.

A sergeant at police headquarters searched patrol vehicles in the department's parking garage and found a patrol vehicle missing a mobile data terminal, Stroer said. No damage to the patrol vehicle is included in police notes, she said, which means the patrol vehicle likely was left unlocked.

Decker was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property. He has been released from the Boone County Jail after posting a $4,500 bond.

This article was published on page A2 of the Tuesday, June 28, 2011 edition of The Columbia Daily Tribune. Click here to Subscribe.