BELLE — A property damage report last Thursday led to the arrest of an Independence man after he allegedly stole a truck, conducted a home invasion and attempted to rob the homeowner of a firearm.

Around 10 p.m. on March 13, Maries County dispatchers received a 911 call from a female resident on Second Street who stated that her boyfriend, Travis Bellomy, had been drinking and was breaking the windows out of her vehicle. She told dispatch that he had threatened she would be his next target of aggression. Since the incident was occurring in city limits, the call was transferred to Gasconade County Central Communications, the agency dispatching for the Belle Police Department.

Before on-duty Belle Officer Erican Sugg arrived at the residence, Bellomy fled the scene on foot and was spotted at Casey’s General Store, where he allegedly stole alcohol.

While searching for Bellomy, Sugg received a direct cell phone call from a city resident where he was told that the caller’s vehicle had just been stolen from Padgett’s Place in Belle.

Meanwhile, Maries County deputies were engaged in a separate traffic stop between Vienna and Belle. Chief Deputy Scott John dispatched both units to Belle along with an additional three more deputies who were reporting for duty. John ordered patrols to split, setting up in stationary positions to block vehicles in Belle from entering the county. Others were ordered to search county roads around town.

“All the info we had was from listening to cross traffic (radio),” John said. “We heard what was going on and responded to the area based on radio traffic we were hearing. Belle never requested assistance.”

When deputies arrived in Belle they were met by Sugg on Fifth Street, who was still searching for the stolen vehicle. The owner of the vehicle and a family member were actively searching for their property and believed they had found it. Sugg pursued the vehicle and ordered the parties following it to stand down. The vehicle was stopped by Maries County deputies who determined it wasn’t the stolen vehicle after making contact with the driver.

While police were searching for the stolen truck, another 911 call was received from a residence close to Twelfth Street. The caller told dispatchers that a male subject had just come into their residence, taken possession of one of their firearms, and pointed the weapon at them. The homeowner was able to get the weapon away from the individual before the suspect fled the house. The description given to dispatch matched Bellomy.

Belle PD discovered the stolen vehicle abandoned and crashed on Twelfth Street. The K9 officer followed the trail to the residence that had reported the break-in, and continued to where deputies discovered the suspect attempting to hide in the brush across from Capital Energy.

Law enforcement ordered Bellomy to surrender. Instead, he attempted to flee on foot and fought with deputies before being tasered and taken into custody. He was transported to the Maries County Jail for outstanding warrants and pending charges in Buchanan County.

John said he was concerned about Bellomy causing chaos and endangering citizens in Belle.

“We were going without being requested. We heard the subject, who was committing felony property damage, had fled on foot and was either intoxicated or high,” said John. “I didn’t want someone running around the area like that freely, so I sent Maries County deputies to assist. Obviously, he was a danger because he went into a home and took a firearm.”

Belle Marshal Jerry Coborn commended Officer Sugg’s swift and professional response, along with Maries County’s prompt assistance.

“Officer Sugg responded quickly, professionally,” Coborn said, “Maries County also responded with at least four or five deputies within minutes. That was good. Scott John was on scene with the K9 officer and at least two or three other deputies. They definitely had a good presence as far as helping to find and detain (Bellomy).”

In his drafted probable cause (PC) statement, which is subject to change, Sugg said Bellomy had become upset after the initial victim poured out his alcohol.

When asked on Tuesday about pending charges on Bellomy, Maries County Prosecutor Tony Skouby said he is waiting to file charges on the county and city’s behalf.

“I don’t have anything on the stolen truck, yet,” Skouby said. “Mark Morgan is supposed to send the PC statement. I have where they crashed in front of Greene’s Cabinet after he stole some guy’s gun and pointed it at him. Apparently, it took four deputies to hold him down. He’s not goin’ anywhere.”