Jackson men arrested with firearms 'capable of lethal force'

Two Jackson men have each been charged with several felonies in connection with an incident in which both were found with weapons deemed to be capable of lethal force.

A release from Cape Girardeau Police Department says police responded about 12:30 a.m. Friday, July 12, to the 3400 block of William Street after receiving a call of a suspicious person. At the scene, they located Scott Taylor II, 19, unconscious, on the ground with a ski mask on top of his head and an AK-47-style rifle across his arm.

The firearm contained a magazine with 30 rounds of ammunition.

Medical personnel arrived at the scene and transported Taylor to a local hospital for treatment of an apparent overdose of an unknown substance.

The initial report indicated a black Dodge Challenger had left the area as officers arrived, and police later located Jude Jaco, 19, in the vehicle in the 100 block of Siemers Drive. In the vehicle, they found a loaded pistol, ammunition and several magazines that would fit the pistol and the rifle Taylor possessed. The release says officers determined Jaco was impaired by alcohol.

Police took both into custody.

According to a probable-cause statement, authorities viewed surveillance camera footage at the scene, a commercial property, and saw Taylor attempt to enter the store, but the door had been locked. The video showed him walk around soda machines outside the store and lie down between them, after attempting to remove something from his pants, which authorities later determined to be the rifle. Employees saw him and notified authorities. The footage also showed Jaco letting Taylor out of the vehicle and then leaving the area.

Cape Girardeau County Prosecutor's Office has charged Taylor and Jaco with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon.

Taylor also faces a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree assault. He is being held without bond.

Jaco also faces a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated. He is being held without bond.

The origin of the robbery charge was unclear from the release, and a request for clarification was not answered by publication time.