BY NEAL A. Johnson

UD Editor

thor65018@yahoo.com

FREEBURG  — A Jefferson City man was arrested and then released without charges following the theft of deodorant and pens from Dollar General in Freeburg.

According to Sheriff Mike Bonham, Bruce T. Clemonds, 42, was seen by a Dollar General employee putting a white stick of Dove Advanced Care deodorant in his pocket. He was also seen on store cameras carrying individual pens. The employee called the Osage County Emergency Operations (EOC) after Clemonds left the store to report the theft, noting he went to the register and paid for a sketchbook and a multi-pack of pens but not the deodorant or individual pens. 

A description of Clemonds — with red hair and wearing a ball cap — was provided to the EOC. The employee told authorities he had left Dollar General northbound on Hwy. 63 in a late-90s Chevrolet Z71 pickup with four doors and degraded paint.

The EOC relayed that information to the Osage County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

A state trooper located the vehicle on Hwy. 63 at Show Me Lane, near Westphalia. He initiated the traffic stop due to the vehicle matching the description provided by the caller and traveling in the correct direction and appropriate time frame from the store.

Clemonds matched the description provided by the store employee. The trooper was searching the vehicle for the stolen items when Deputy Amy Keilholz arrived. Authorities did not find the deodorant in the truck but discovered the pens, the sketchpad, and a pack of pens.

A female passenger refused to identify herself and was transported by the trooper to the Osage County Jail for identification purposes due to her involvement. 

Mara Claus, 33, of Rolla, was identified at the jail and, with multiple warrants, was taken into custody by the Patrol. The stolen deodorant was discovered in Claus’ pocket while in the Osage County Jail and collected for evidence.

After the MSHP departed the scene of the traffic stop with Claus, Deputy Keilholz followed Clemonds back to Dollar General in Freeburg to pay for the stolen items. 

Dollar General did not want to press charges since the items were paid for but requested that Clemonds and Claus be trespassed from the property. Deputies informed both they were not allowed to return to the store.

According to Sheriff Bonham, Clemonds admitted to taking the deodorant and told Deputy Keilholz it would be found in Claus’ pocket. He likewise admitted to taking the pens and was released after paying for both.

Claus was transported to the Phelps County Jail on a no-bond warrant.