Less than six months after being released on parole, a Poplar Bluff, Mo., man may face new charges in connection with two alleged assaults, which occurred two days apart and involved firearms.
At about 2:45 p.m. Monday, Poplar Bluff police officers reportedly were sent to the area of Cole Avenue and Relief Street regarding a report of shots being fired at a vehicle.
Upon Patrolman Robert Reed's arrival, according to his report, he met with Joshua Leader, Morgan Leader and Brittany Leader, who all reported "they were traveling south on Cole Avenue and heard someone yelling at them and then heard what they thought were fireworks."
Joshua Leader, Reed said, reported a white male, wearing no shirt and blue shorts, with tattoos yelled: "'Slow, the ---- down.' Joshua advised before he could figure out where it came from, he heard 'the first shot.'"
Reed said Joshua Leader further reported he looked in the mirror and "clearly" saw what was described as a small, pocket-sized semiautomatic pistol and watched the man allegedly pull the trigger two more times.
Joshua Leader further described the man as being about 6 feet tall and "probably 30 years of age with several tattoos."
Brittany Leader and Morgan Leader provided similar descriptions.
"Brittany stated she heard 'four or five shots' fired toward their vehicle," Reed said.
In her statement, Morgan Leader indicated the man, later identified as Michael Alan Sincup, 27, was standing outside a Cole Avenue residence. Sincup is a resident of the 1200 block of Cole Avenue.
"Morgan stated it sounded like he yelled something, and (they) heard what sounded like 'firecrackers,'" Reed said. "Morgan advised she never once observed a gun, but did hear about four shots as they passed where the male was standing."
Reed said the Leaders were provided with a photographic lineup in an attempt to identify the suspect.
During the investigation, Reed also spoke with a witness who lived in the 1000 block of Cole Avenue.
The woman, Reed said, told officers she was in her back yard when she saw Sincup down toward her house. She later contacted Sincup.
"(She) stated Sincup wanted to know if his girlfriend was in the house and started talking about an incident that happened Friday night," Reed said.
The woman, according to Reed, further reported a couple of her friends, identified as the Leaders, saw Sincup in her yard and stopped to see if she was OK due to prior alleged incidents with Sincup.
"(She) stated 'Mike' started walking back towards his residence," Reed said.
The Leaders, according to the woman's statement, were test driving a vehicle and had to return it, but planned to come back once they did.
"(She) stated as the Leaders made it to the top of the hill on Cole Avenue (approaching Lexington), she observed Mike shoot two shots at the vehicle from his front yard," Reed said.
Sincup was arrested at 4:55 p.m. at his residence on suspicion of unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, first-degree assault and armed criminal action. He was booked at the Butler County jail.
At the time of his arrest, Sincup also was the suspect in an earlier assault that was reported to the police department at about 1:35 a.m. Saturday.
Patrolman Shaun Prenger, according to his report, was sent to a residence in the 1000 block of Cole Avenue in reference to an assault involving a firearm. He subsequently contacted the alleged victim, Samuel Dewayne Brown, 28.
"Brown stated that he stepped outside of his residence to make contact with one of his neighbors, identified as Michael Sincup," Prenger said. "Once outside, Sincup asked Brown to come down to his house."
Brown, Prenger said, reported he went to Sincup's home and entered the back bedroom, where Sincup resided.
"Brown stated that Sincup was inside the bedroom, holding what appeared to be a .22-caliber rifle," Prenger said.
Sincup allegedly struck Brown in the side of his face with the butt of the gun's stock, and then allegedly pointed the gun at him, "advising that he was going to shoot him," Prenger said.
At that point, Brown reported he exited the residence and fled home.
Just after 1:50 a.m., Prenger said, officers contacted the homeowners at the Cole Avenue home, asking if Sincup was inside.
Prenger said the homeowners reported Sincup was not there and gave officers permission to search the home for Sincup.
"While inside, officers observed what appeared to be several wet blood splatters (on the floor) from Sincup's room to the front door of the residence," Prenger said.
When the homeowners were asked about the earlier incident and the blood splatters, they reported they were in bed and did not know anything, Prenger said.
Officers reportedly were unable to find Sincup at that time.
At the time of the alleged incidents, Sincup was on parole, having been released from the Missouri Department of Corrections in February.
Sincup pleaded guilty in September 2010 to the Class B felony of manufacturing of a controlled substance and the Class C felony of possession of a controlled substance in Butler County.
Sincup was sentenced to 10 years in prison on the manufacturing charge and seven years in prison on the possession charge. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently.
According to a Probation & Parole official, Sincup's parole expires on the manufacturing charge on Sept. 10, 2020. His parole expires on Aug. 25 on the possession charge.