Cape Girardeau man charged in armed robbery incident on William St

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) – A Cape Girardeau man has been arrested and charged in connection with an armed robbery that occurred Saturday afternoon in the 800 block of William Street, according to the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Around 12 p.m. on Nov. 1, officers responded to a report of a robbery involving a knife.

The victim told police he had received a phone call from a woman requesting a rent refund, followed by a second call from a man — later identified as Khelby Calmese, 38, of Cape Girardeau — who said he wanted to view a vacant apartment.

Before meeting Calmese, the victim collected $850 in cash from another tenant for rent. The victim then took Calmese to view an upstairs apartment. While climbing the stairs, the victim overheard Calmese say, “Is this the guy?” and a woman’s voice on the phone respond, “He’s the guy.”

Police said Calmese then pulled out a knife, forcibly took the cash from the victim’s pocket, and attempted to push him down the stairs.

The victim was struck in the face during the struggle but managed to fend off Calmese and call for help.

As Calmese fled, he allegedly stabbed the front tire of the victim’s vehicle, causing about $411 in damage.

Using the FLOCK camera system, officers were able to locate and arrest Calmese the following day.

Calmese has been charged by the Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with the following offenses:

• First-degree robbery (Class A felony)
• Armed criminal action (felony)
• Third-degree assault (Class E felony)
• Second-degree property damage (Class B misdemeanor)

He is currently being held in the Cape Girardeau County Jail on a $100,000 cash bond.

Police remind the public that charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.