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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">600 E. Walnut Street
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Columbia, MO 65201</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">March 20, 2026</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Brian McNeill
<br />Public Information Specialist
<br />Columbia Police Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.825.4022
<br />policepio@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Columbia Police arrest arson suspect in residential structure fire on Newton Drive</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Columbia Police have arrested Anjaleque Bragg, 31, of Columbia, in connection with a residential structure fire that occurred at about 10 a.m. March 20 in the 1900 block of Newton Drive. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bragg was arrested on charges of first-degree arson and first-degree assault. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When the Columbia Fire Department and Columbia Police first arrived at the scene, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">flames and smoke were coming from a two-story duplex. Firefighters located a fire in the interior of the structure and successfully extinguished the flames within approximately four minutes after arrival. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The occupants of the structure had evacuated prior to police and fire arrival, and one resident with an unrelated illness was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Columbia Police Department at 573.874.7652. To provide information without leaving your name or number, call CrimeStoppers at 573.875.8477 or visit </span><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="http://www.p3tips.com/899?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExNTRjcXBNMjA2VVdSazBjZQEeWtTwMybJza38Tl4wSYajyJQTI_Zf713ElqkK6tBAocUUMi1BesJdZydP6eY_aem_xugvqyBs0iQiygoQc-5ZxA"><span style="font-weight: 400;">http://www.p3tips.com/899</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. If you provide information to CrimeStoppers that leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,500. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Case Number 2026-002422</strong></p>
<p><strong>Missouri statutes</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">569.040 - Arson in the first degree</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">565.050 - Assault in the first degree</span></p></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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