A Jefferson City man has been charged in connection with a burglary at a business early Thursday morning.
Zachary Cooper, 20, 115 Landwehr Hills Road, is charged with one count of first-degree burglary and was being held in the Cole County Jail on $20,000 bond.
According to court documents, at about 1 a.m., Cole County Sheriff's Department deputies responded to the business Toms at 102 Lomo Drive for a burglary in progress.
The owner was spending the night in his business when he heard a noise.
He investigated the noise and found Cooper halfway into his business through a broken window.
The owner started yelling at Cooper and threw boxes at him. Cooper eventually fled.
A deputy was nearby and saw a vehicle leave the area at a high rate of speed. The deputy eventually stopped the vehicle to question the driver, Cooper.
Upon further investigation, security video, as well as the owner, identified Cooper as the suspect in the burglary.
After being read his rights and explaining the evidence against him, Cooper admitted to burglarizing the business to try and get synthetic marijuana.