The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published October 9, 2019

Camdenton Drug store robbery call leads to arrest

CAMDENTON – A man is in jail after allegedly trying to rob a city drug store.

On Monday September 30 at approximately 5:11 p.m., the Camdenton Police Department (CPD) was dispatched to Laker Drug on North Business Highway 5 for a call of an armed robbery in progress.

Upon arrival, the store employee said a male subject came into the store and had his face concealed and a blunt metal object in his hand.

According to the CPD, the masked man ordered the employee to give him Xanax (which is a controlled substance). The employee dialed 911 and the subject fled, leaving in a dark gray Ford Flex with the license plate covered.

The clerk said the man had been in the store a short time earlier and had acted suspiciously at that time. Officers began searching the area for the vehicle.

After reviewing the details of the incident, officers identified one potential subject and found a vehicle matching the description in the driveway where he resides.

After meeting with the subject, officers noted his physical appearance and other attributes were similar to the description given by the employee. Based on this and other evidence, he was taken into custody pending investigation.

Some clothing items were later recovered that police say matched what the suspect had been wearing at the time of the attempted robbery.

Michael A. Browning, 30, of Camdenton, MO, was arrested and charged with Attempted Robbery - 1st Degree.

On October 1, the judge set bond at $75,000 Cash or Surety, however the next day that changed.

On October 2 before Judge Aaron Koeppen, bond was denied.

The court docket said “Defendant (in custody) is found to be emotionally and physically unable to make a court appearance. 48 hour bond appearance hearing is held pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 33.06 The Court modifies bond to No Bond Allowed. Cause set to 10-9-19 at 9 a.m. for seven day bond hearing and arraignment.”