Man attempts to steal officers bike

Early Saturday morning at 1:15 a.m., a St. Louis man was found attempting to steal a Columbia officer’s bike valued at $1,200.
Greg Hoffmeyer left Shiloh Bar & Grill in downtown and saw the bike parked and unsecured outside. He then jumped onto Columbia Police Department Sgt. Chris Kelley’s Trek mountain bike. His motive or intentions were unclear.
“I have no idea where he was going,” CPD spokeswoman Jessie Haden said. “He was intoxicated and that’s very likely why he stole it.”
Kelley was in the area because he was responding to a trespassing call at a nearby bar.
“That is why he didn't secure (the bike)...it was more important for him to respond to the call quickly,“ Haden said.
Hoffemeyer didn’t make it far with the stolen property. A second responding officer arrived to help out with the trespassing call and witnessed the suspect get on the bike and start to ride away. The officer immediately approached the suspect and ordered him to stop and get off Kelley’s bike. Hoffemeyer did so without any protest and was arrested.
Hoffemeyer was arrested on the charges of felony stealing and tampering. The prosecutor filed the tampering charge because he attempted to steal property from a police officer, Haden said.
Bond was set according to the tampering charge and Hoffemeyer was subsequently released after posting a $500 bail.