Thursday, Feb. 04, 2010
Teen charged with robbery, armed criminal action
Emily Jarrett, Journal Staff
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A Blue Springs teenager has been charged with multiple counts of felony robbery, armed criminal action, burglary and fraudulent use of a credit card, according to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s office.
Travis W. Bailey, 19, and his alleged accomplice, Justin D. Sievers, 18, Independence, are charged for their alleged involvement in multiple robberies and a police chase that occurred Jan 25.
According to reports, at 11:30 p.m. Jan. 25, Bailey and Sievers broke into an Oak Grove residence, located in the 1100 block of N.E. White Oaks Lane. The victim was awakened by Bailey and Sievers who were, “wearing masks, standing in the doorway of her bedroom.”
“One of the subjects was armed with a large knife which was displayed in a threatening manner, and the second subject was armed with a black handgun type weapon, later identified as an air soft device,” the probable cause statement reads.
Reports indicate Bailey and Sievers ordered the victim to give them the keys to her vehicle, a 2007 Toyota Corolla, and her purse.
“While assisting the subjects in locating the keys and purse, (the victim) fell to the floor resulting in injury to her left eye socket,” the probable cause statement indicates. “(Bailey and Sievers) took control of the land line and cell phone to prevent her from calling 9-1-1 or the police. When Bailey and Sievers left the home, the victim contacted a neighbor who then called the Oak Grove Police Department.”
At 4 p.m. Jan. 26, an informant told police officers Bailey and Sievers may have been responsible for the break-in and robbery in Oak Grove. At 4:33 p.m., an Independence police detective and a deputy U.S. Marshal saw the victim’s Toyota Corolla in the parking lot of Sladek Hardware, located in the 15000 block of East U.S. 24 Highway in Independence.
The Independence detective, according to the probable cause statement, believed Bailey and Sievers saw the officers and were preparing to escape.
“The detective parked his vehicle in close proximity to (the Toyota Corolla) and announced in a loud, clear voice ‘Police. Stop.’” the statement reads. “The Corolla then backed into the detective’s vehicle, resulting in the officer being struck and causing him to fall into the door frame of his vehicle. The vehicle then proceeded forward, hitting the side of the U.S. Marshal’s vehicle and fled the parking lot driving south on M-291.”
Independence officers immediately followed the vehicle, which drove south on M-291, then west on Truman Road. At the intersection of Truman Road and Sterling, the vehicle did not stop at a red light and hit two other vehicles. At the intersection of Truman Road and Winchester, the vehicle collided with a mini-van, resulting in injury to the driver.
“Sievers and Bailey immediately got out of the vehicle and ran from the area,” the probable cause statement indicates. “They were ultimately apprehended by officers.”
When speaking after the incident, Sievers told officers he and Bailey planned the forced entry into the Oak Grove home to steal a vehicle because they were “needing a ride.”
After stealing the Toyota Corolla, Sievers and Bailey drove to a Quik Trip on Lee’s Summit Road, and used the victim’s credit card to purchase gas and four cartons of cigarettes. Sievers and Bailey also allegedly committed a burglary at a residence in the 1500 block of Geronimo in Independence and stole two rifles, ammunition, a camera, a laptop computer, a community monitor, a stereo system and a Play Station 2 gaming system.
“Sievers stated he also participated in the theft of a white 2003 Ford F150 which contained multiple credit cards and $15,000 worth of surveying equipment,” the statement reads. “Sievers stated Bailey used the credit cards at multiple businesses.”
Independence police also found .5 grams of a crystalline substance, believed to be methamphetamine in Sievers’ wallet.
Sievers was charged with felony first-degree robbery, two counts of felony armed criminal action, felony first-degree burglary, felony first-degree assault of a law enforcement officer, felony second-degree assault of a law enforcement officer and felony resisting arrest.
To reach Journal reporter Emily Jarrett, call 816-282-7018 or e-mail ejarrett@bluespringsjournal.com.
