Suspect Remains in Custody after New Year’s Eve Assault

On December 31 at approximately 10:11 a.m., the West Plains Police Department received a call about a female assault victim at Ozarks Healthcare. The victim had been assaulted by her boyfriend, Darren L. Break, 45, of West Plains. According to the victim, at one point during the altercation, Break discharged a firearm.
After interviewing the woman, officers went to Break’s residence on Lanton Road. Due to the violent nature of the assault and the involvement of a firearm, the West Plains/Howell County S.W.A.T. Team was activated. After unsuccessful attempts to convince Break to surrender himself, law enforcement officers made entrance to the residence and discovered Break was not present. Break remained wanted and at large for several days.
On January 3, at approximately 9:52 a.m. WPPD received a call through 911 reporting a man who called in sounding confused and hard to understand. West Plains Dispatch researched the suspicious male's phone number in the police department’s database and discovered the phone number belonged to Break, who was wanted not only for the New Year’s assault, but also for several violent felonies including first degree domestic assault. Howell County 911 reported the caller was at Casey's General Store on Preacher Roe Blvd.
While officers were en route to the location, dispatch updated them on Break’s new suspected location in the 400 block of East 2nd Street. Officers re-routed and arrived in the area at 10:06 a.m.. After confirming the subject was Break, officers took him into custody without incident at 10:17 a.m. 
Break was transported to the Howell County Detention Facility and placed on a 24-hour hold pending formal charges from the Howell County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.  
Formal charges were filed on Sunday January 3 against Break. In connection with the New Year’s Eve incident, he was charged with one count each of first degree domestic assault, first degree sodomy or attempted sodomy, an aggravated sexual offense, first degree kidnapping, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon. He was charged with three felony counts of armed criminal action. 
An arrest warrant was issued on January 4, setting a total bond at $250,000. As of press time, Break remains in custody.

Howell County News

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