(COLUMBIA, MO) ~ Columbia Police have made an arrest in connection to a series of prowler cases dating back to 2020. On October 18, Guillermo Hernandez-Vasquez, 33, of Columbia, was taken into custody and charged with first-degree burglary, second-degree burglary, forgery, second-degree property damage, and first-degree trespassing.

The arrest came after a traffic stop on June 22 where Hernandez-Vasquez was issued a summons. As part of the court's orders, he was required to provide fingerprints. On October 16, the Missouri State Highway Patrol lab notified Columbia police that they had found a fingerprint match linking Hernandez-Vasquez to multiple cases from the department dating back to last year.

Through further investigation and analysis of fingerprints collected from previous crime scenes, officers were able to connect Hernandez-Vasquez to additional cases. "Incidents such as these are very concerning to both police and the public," said Chief of Police Jill Schlude. "I am thankful for the hard work and diligence of our staff in bringing this case to a resolution."

More on TelAve News

• Crossroads4Hope Launches Blood Cancer Resource Hub
• NIL Club Data Shows Brands Are Looking Beyond Follower Counts in College Sports
• SafecomLink 5G-AI-ALE: Automatic Link Establishment that Stays Active for the Life of the Link
• Georgia's Magical Nights of Lights Bigger and Brighter for 2026
• Harvard Educated Board Certified Endodontist Joins Pearlfection Dentistry

The Chief also commended the thorough and detail-oriented approach taken by officers in this investigation. The case serves as an example of what can be accomplished through perseverance and dedication.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact CrimeStoppers at 573-875-8477. Tips can be provided anonymously and may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,500 if they lead to an arrest.

This arrest comes after previous efforts by Columbia Police seeking the community's help in identifying a suspected prowler. The department had released information about the case on their website on September 30 (https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php...). They continue to urge members of the public to come forward with any information that could assist in this or other investigations.

---

Show All News | Disclaimer | Report Violation