The Boonville Police Department arrested a Howard County man last week who has been formally charged with a felony for allegedly stealing a vehicle from Columbia.
A probable-cause statement says an officer with Boonville PD observed a truck and ran its registration, which was reported as stolen on March 14. The driver, 27-year-old Michael Wade Smith, of New Franklin, was arrested and transported to the Cooper County Detention Center. Smith reportedly told officers he was borrowing the truck from a friend. Officers contacted the owner of the truck who never gave Smith permission to drive the vehicle.
Online count documents say Smith has been charged with a Class D Felony for Tampering with a Motor Vehicle in the First Degree with bond set at $15,000 cash or surety.
Smith’s initial hearing is pending at Cooper County Circuit Court.