ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (KMOV) – A man involved with breaking into a Mehlville home and pepper spraying and tying up the occupants inside on Christmas Eve has been charged.
Ronald Hargis, 38, was charged last week with first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary.
According to police, Hargis drove four men to the home around 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 24. One of the suspects told Hargis to go outside and wait.
Three suspects then walked into the home and pepper sprayed a couple before tying them up. The male victim was also struck with a baton.
Police said the suspects then took the man’s wallet and woman’s purse, which contained about $14,000 in cash.
Authorities said when the suspects came out of the house, one of them handed Hargis $1,000.
According to police, investigators identified Hargis as a suspect after finding his fingerprint on an inside door.
He remains in the St. Louis County jail on $75,000 bail.
