heartbeat

21
Thu, Nov

After 11 years of terror, when is the Law going to put this guy away for good?
 
COLUMBIA, 2/22/12  (Beat Byte) -- If a jury convicts Malcolm Redmon of assault, thank our dysfunctional courts and prison system for contributing to Columbia's latest bullet-riddled spree.
 
Redmon was arrested Sunday in connection with a week-long series of gunshot incidents stretching from Boone Tavern to Chuck E. Cheese that had the entire community -- once again -- on edge. 
 
Modern-Day Dillinger
 
A 28-year-old modern-day John Dillinger, Redmon has been in out of the slam for over a decade, becoming Public Enemy #1 in 2008 after separate shooting sprees that locked down Grant Elementary School and left two people injured on Columbia's Park Avenue. 
 
His history makes the Missouri Department of Corrections look like a vendor for well-oiled revolving doors. 
 
"I was infuriated reading about Malcolm Redmon, the dangerous convict with a violent past who was allowed parole after two shootings, stealing, and drug trafficking and possession, all since 2002," a Columbia Tribune reader wrote way back in November 2007.  "He served barely a year in prison."
 
Redmon became one of Columbia's most-wanted fugitives after authorities charged him with gunning down a 15-year-old boy and 20-year-old man in October 2007.   As they are with this latest shooting spree, so-called "No Snitch" street rules were blamed when that case was dropped.
 
A few months later, Redmon was at it again, arrested with 17-year-old Javonte Roy in connection with a shooting that locked down Grant Elementary in October 2008.   Roy shot at Redmon, out of prison on parole for just ten days.  Redmon fled, and police later arrested him when an accomplice threw 117 grams of crack cocaine out of a house during a police chase. 
 
Life of Crime
 
Media accounts have Redmon starting his life of crime in 2001 as a bank-robbing member of the aptly-named "Gambino Gang," which took its name from the notorious Mafia crime family.  
 
"The Gambinos have been associated with homicides, robberies and shootings intended to intimidate, as well as the sale of narcotics," then-Columbia Police captain Eric Meyer told the Columbia Tribune.  "In addition to stealing, Malcolm Redmon, 18, is charged with selling crack cocaine to an undercover officer.  He remained today in Boone County Jail, with bond set at $200,000."

But Redmon didn't stay in jail. 
 
Responding to that angry Trib reader, Missouri Department of Corrections spokesperson Brian Hauswirth recited the list of Redmon's offenses from 2002 onward.    It read like a litany of the dysfunction that plagues our courts and correctional system, putting massive pressure on beat cops to keep re-arresting the same offenders, and presenting the escalating community threat that comes with each new parole. 
 
In February 2002, Redmon was ordered by Boone County judge Frank Conley to serve six years in prison on drug violations.  Instead, "he was placed in our shock incarceration program," Hauswirth explained,  "and granted probation in May 2002," just three months later. 
 
Three months after that, Redmon was back.   "On Aug. 26, 2002, Redmon was convicted of second-degree drug trafficking and sentenced to eight years," Hauswirth wrote.  
 
Again, the courts relented, reducing his sentence to the "12-month drug program at Maryville Treatment Center.  In December 2003, Redmon was released on probation," Hauswirth explained.   
 
Six months later, Redmon was back yet again.  "In July 2004, Redmon’s probation was revoked over a June 2004 arrest, Hauswirth explained.   "Charges were dismissed by prosecutors on Aug. 30, 2004.   Redmon was paroled Nov. 28, 2006."   
 
Though not reported, Redmon -- also known as Malcolm DeSean Redmon and Malcolm DeShawn Redmon -- has been in and out of court on more criminal charges at least 10 times in the past year alone.  
 
But the door just keeps revolving. 
 

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

The Columbia HeartBeat

Related Articles