Suspect formally charged for Friday’s Central Bank of Sedalia robbery

David O. Waters III

The suspect in Friday’s bank robbery at Central Bank of Sedalia, 301 W. Broadway Blvd., has been formally charged for the crime.

David O. Waters III, 26, of Kansas City, has been charged with first degree robbery and armed criminal action by Pettis County Prosecutor Phillip Sawyer. He is at the Pettis County Jail on a $500,000 bond, cash only.

According to Case.net, Waters appeared at an arraignment Monday morning, where he pled not guilty to the charges. A hearing has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Pettis County Courthouse.

This isn’t the first time Waters has been involved with a robbery: he has a criminal history that may “enhance” his current charges, Sawyer said Tuesday.

“Based on what I received, he has some prior criminal history,” Sawyer said. “I’m exploring whether any of that merits an enhancement of the current charges.”

According to court documents, Waters has a prior conviction for second degree robbery and armed criminal action and is on probation/parole for those charges. According to Case.net, the charges were filed in late 2011 after being arrested by the Kansas City Police Department, when Waters was 22. He was sentenced in March 2013 for a combined eight years to run concurrently, with credit given for time already served.

Sedalia Police Department officers arrested Waters Friday afternoon in the 100 block of East Chestnut Avenue, just hours after the robbery occurred. Patrol officers had been making contact with anyone matching the suspect description, SPD Cmdr. Adam Hendricks told the Democrat.

According to a SPD report, at 11:40 a.m. Friday, SPD received a report that Central Bank had been robbed. A witness stated the suspect indicated he was armed, demanded money and then fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of money.

According to court documents, Waters handed a teller a note that read “I need that money. Gun in my pocket. One wrong move your (sic) dead. Start with the money on top.” SPD Detective Josh Howell said the weapon was never shown or used, according to the witness.

SPD officers checked video surveillance footage at nearby convenience stores, finding that Waters had entered Break Time, across the street, at 10:56 a.m. Officers also saw him enter a vehicle, which was later stopped when Waters was arrested. Waters was questioned by officers at SPD, but denied any involvement in the robbery.

No injuries were reported during the incident. Howell told the Democrat late Friday night some of the money stolen had been recovered.

Nicole Cooke can be reached at 660-826-1000 ext. 1482 or @NicoleRCooke.