CPD Officers received a call phoned in directly to the Columbia Police Department before noon today (Tuesday, April 25, 2023) regarding a male subject said to be staying at Country Place Apartments as a non-compliant sex offender.
The male subject had left on foot prior to officers arrival. Within this time, a School Resource Officer observed a male subject walking along a tree line on Adair County Public Schools property. The man noticed the police cruiser and fled through the tree line towards the direction of Dillon Street.
A soft lockdown of schools was placed into effect as other School Resource Officers and units from the Columbia Police Dept. and Adair County Sheriff’s Office attempted to locate the subject.
The man was soon observed by officers running through the tree line, along a field off Dillon Street and the Bypass. Officers converged on the area on foot and found the man attempting to hide in a thicket.
27-year-old Chaz Shofner was taken into custody without incident and charged with criminal trespassing 3rd degree, registered sex offender school restrictions, and failure to comply with sex offender registration.
CPD Officer Gary Roy made the arrest. He was assisted on scene by multiple Officers from the Columbia Police Department and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office.
