Having arrested two people Monday afternoon in connection with a weekend home invasion that sent a Poplar Bluff, Mo., man to the hospital with a gunshot wound, local authorities continue their search for the third suspect.
Keith Michael Taylor, 27, of Broseley, Mo., and Mercedes Delisa Patterson, 24, of the 700 block of Ethel Street were arrested at about 2:30 p.m. at a home on County Road 602, said Poplar Bluff police Capt. J.R. Keirsey, who indicated an anonymous tip led officers to the home.
The pair had been sought for questioning regarding a home invasion/robbery in which a man had been shot early Sunday morning at his home in the 1300 block of South 11th Street.
Police officers responded there just before 3:20 a.m. Sunday and contacted the home's male occupant, as well as a female, who reported they were in the living room when "two black males entered the residence, wearing masks and demanded money," said Keirsey, who indicated a weapon, believed to be a pistol, was displayed when the men entered.
The suspects, he said, allegedly took $4,500 from the woman's purse; however, they demanded more money.
"When no further money was presented, one of the suspects fired a shot, striking one of the victims," Keirsey said.
The men then fled the home, but not before allegedly duct taping the victims, said Keirsey, who assumed the suspects had brought their own duct tape and fled on foot.
Once the victims were able to free themselves, "they left and went to a neighbor's house to call" authorities, Keirsey said.
The 44-year-old male victim was struck once in the buttock and was taken by ambulance an area hospital for treatment, said Keirsey, who indicted the wound was not life threatening.
The man, he said, may have been transferred to a Cape Girardeau, Mo., hospital for surgery.
The victims, according to Keirsey, identified Taylor and a Cameron Cook as the alleged suspects.
"Cook has been interviewed, and there was not enough evidence to charge him at this time," Keirsey said.
Officers, he said, believe Patterson "may have been the one who set this all up; she knew the female victim had the money and orchestrated it."
Patterson, according to Keirsey, had been at the house.
"Mercedes was there when the guys came in; she ran out the door," Keirsey said.
After Patterson and Taylor were arrested Monday, Keirsey said, they were interviewed and booked at the Butler County jail.
Patterson is being held on suspicion of first-degree assault, first-degree burglary, second-degree kidnapping and first-degree robbery.
Taylor is being held on suspicion of first-degree assault, armed criminal action, first-degree burglary, delivery of a controlled substance, kidnapping, possession of a controlled substance and first-degree robbery and on a capias warrant for probation violation on an original charge of possession of a controlled substance.
Taylor, Keirsey said, allegedly was in possession of methamphetamine, which was packaged in small bags for sale, at the time of his arrest.
Keirsey said the investigation is ongoing as officers continue to search for the second man.