KCK robbery defendants appear in court

Three men made their first court appearances Monday in connection with an armed robbery that authorities believe is linked to a string of other crimes, including the shooting of a Wyandotte County deputy.

Wyandotte County prosecutors late Friday charged Dyron M. King, 24, Cecil D. Meggerson, 35, and Charles D. Bowser, 18, in connection with the March 3 holdup of a Family Dollar store near 13th Street and Quindaro Boulevard.

Each is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Their bonds are set at $1 million.

Bowser also is charged in an unrelated case with aggravated battery and aggravated burglary for a Jan. 18 incident in the 1400 block of South 55th Street.

Authorities in both states are investigating several other armed robberies that occurred March 3 and 4. During a convenience store robbery in the 4400 block of Shawnee Drive, off-duty Wyandotte County Deputy Scott Wood was shot multiple times.

Wood, 42, had just gotten off work and was in uniform when he stopped at the store. While he was inside, the robbers came in. They shot him multiple times and robbed him before fleeing, Wyandotte County Sheriff Don Ash said.

Wood remained hospitalized Monday, but he is in good spirits and “doing really well under the circumstances,” said Lt. Kelli Bailiff of the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office.

“He’s got a long way to go,” Bailiff said. “But the doctors are very optimistic.”

Bowser has a minimal juvenile record involving drug possession and theft charges, according to court records in Kansas. Missouri juvenile records are not public.

But both King and Meggerson have spent time in prison for violent crimes and drug-related convictions.

King is on parole. He was released from prison in August after serving time for aggravated battery and selling drugs, according to Kansas Department of Corrections records.

Meggerson served prison time for aggravated battery, burglary and drug possession convictions. He was paroled in May 2013, the records show.

All three are scheduled to be back in court March 17.

This story was originally published March 9, 2015 at 1:16 PM with the headline "KCK robbery defendants appear in court."