Man Breaks Into Joplin Business After Seeing Employee Inside

It was a scary situation for an employee of a Joplin business Wednesday night. Around 9:15 p.m, police were called to 920 East 15th Street about a person breaking into the business while an employee was inside. The caller said they were at work when they saw a man on the parking lot and heard glass break.

The suspect, now identified as 37-year-old Justin Winters, saw the employee inside the building, then broke the window and started to crawl inside. When officers arrived, Winters fled on foot and was found hiding under a truck in the 1600 block of Indiana and refused to surrender. Officers sprayed him with pepper spray, but still assaulted them by kicking as he was taken into custody.

Winters is being held at the Joplin City Jail with charges pending for first degree burglary and felony resisting arrest.