Smokestack climber arrested on suspicion of trespassing

The woman who climbed a smokestack at the MU power plant early Thursday morning was arrested Monday on suspicion of first-degree trespassing, MU police Capt. Brian Weimer said. Amy Hill, 23, of Columbia, climbed more than 300 feet and spent more than four hours on the smokestack, including sleeping for several hours.

At 3:33 a.m. Thursday, an alarm on the smokestack’s ladder alerted an operator to Hill’s presence. The operator then contacted MU police. When police arrived at the power plant, Hill had already begun climbing the smokestack. Police spent several hours at the site until Hill began to climb down, reaching the bottom of the stack at 7:45 a.m. Hill was taken to Boone Hospital Center, and later transferred to the Mental Health Center for a 96-hour Imminent Harm Admission.

Hill was released Monday with a court date set for Aug. 21.