A Jefferson City man is charged with stealing items from two area businesses and, in one case, assaulting a store manager.
Robert Rackers Sr., 41, 4904 Rainbow Drive, is charged with stealing more than $700 worth of merchandise from Menards on Stone Creek Drive on May 7 and a flatbed trailer from Fluegel Equipment in Centertown on April 11.
A Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statement stated Rackers tried to deceive employees at Menards by saying he paid for merchandise and showing them a receipt that he had paid for some soda.
After asking for help in loading items into his car, Rackers was confronted by a store manager asking to see a receipt. Rackers said he didn't have one.
When asked to go back inside the store, Rackers assaulted the manager by shoving him, punching him in the face, pulling a knife from his pocket and threatening to kill him.
Rackers was taken to the ground and restrained by employees and passers-by until police arrived.
Officers later searched Rackers' vehicle and found methamphetamine and methamphetamine paraphernalia inside.
On the trailer theft case, a Cole County Sheriff's Department probable cause statement shows Rackers claimed he had been given permission by the trailer's owner to take the trailer, but the owner denied it.