A Warrensburg man faces a felony stealing charge after he allegedly stole a handgun from a Warrensburg business on Thursday, Jan. 15.
According to court documents, the Warrensburg Police Department was dispatched to the business at approximately 9:33 a.m. on the report that a man, identified as Jaelin Harrington, was in the process of purchasing a handgun and ran out the door of the business without paying for it.
While responding, officers located a man matching Harrington’s description. The officers gave commands to Harrington and detained him without issue.
Court documents indicate a firearm matching the description of the one stolen fell out of Harrington's sweatshirt pocket. The gun, valued at $299.99, still had the business's price tag attached to the trigger guard.
An employee at the business informed officers that Harrington was acting strangely when he first arrived, but provided his Missouri-issued ID and filled out a form to purchase the firearm.
Probable cause goes on to state that Harrington requested a gun lock and an extra magazine.
After discussing the purchase options, the employee and Harrington agreed to place the firearm on layaway. Harrington provided a first payment of $82.10.
Court documents state Harrington's application to purchase the handgun came back as "delayed" for unknown reasons.
While staff worked to figure out the next step, Harrington ran out the door with the gun, but left behind the gun lock and magazine, as well as his phone and debit card.
The probable cause statement indicates Harrington initially declined to speak to officers after being read his Miranda rights.
Once in the booking process, Harrington was provided with his Miranda rights again and agreed to answer questions without an attorney present.
Probable cause indicates that during questioning, Harrington informed officers he did not know how layaway works, was nervous because he was purchasing his first gun, had provided his card and thought he was good and did not have a receipt because he was in a rush to leave.
Harrington told officers he did not recall an employee attempting to stop him, as surveillance footage and an employee told WPD.
Harrington is charged with stealing a firearm/explosive weapon/ammonium nitrate and is being held in the Johnson County Jail on $10,000 bond.
The maximum sentence for the charge is seven years in prison, or up to a $10,000 fine.
