COLUMBIA — A Columbia man was arrested Friday evening on suspicion of attempting to rob a grocery store cashier at knife point near Prathersville, according to a Boone County Sheriff's Department news release.
The man later attempted suicide in a Boone County Jail cell, causing him to be taken to the hospital and then to a mental health facility, according to the department.
At 9:48 p.m., deputies responded to Randy's Market, 5950 Wagon Trail Road, on a report of an attempted robbery. Deputies were told that a man had displayed a knife and demanded money from a cashier, according to the release. The cashier refused to give the man any money. He then left the store.
Deputies then began to look for the man near the store. They located Michael Harmon, 36, of Columbia and arrested him on suspicion of first-degree robbery and armed criminal action, the release states. No bond had been set as of 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
Harmon was taken to the Boone County Jail, where deputies report that he was uncooperative during processing, causing him to be placed in a holding cell, the release states.
In the cell, Harmon attempted to commit suicide with a piece of clothing. Jail staff and deputies restrained him, removed him from the cell and requested medical personnel to evaluate his injuries, the release states. He was then taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was medically released on Saturday.
Harmon was then taken for further care to Biggs Forensic Center, a mental health facility in Fulton.