Vance Edward Slater Arrested for Burglary and Harassment at Sedalia School
On the night of December 3, 2024, Sedalia police responded to a trespassing call at Smith Cotton Junior High School, located at 312 East Broadway Boulevard. School staff had reported unusual sounds coming from work radios and discovered music playing in the building’s lost and found area. When staff investigated, they found a male, later identified as Vance Edward Slater, 39, on the third floor.
Slater initially claimed his name was “Slater” when confronted, and after a brief conversation with staff, the police were called. The school staff, notably upset by the “ghost” noises and disruptions, described their growing concern as Slater ignored requests to come downstairs.
Upon arrival, officers, with the help of a K9 unit, located Slater in Room 301 sitting at a desk. Slater resisted arrest, attempting to pull away from officers and failing to comply with verbal commands. During questioning, he refused to answer until he was being escorted to a patrol vehicle, where he claimed he was waiting for someone—whom he bizarrely identified as Taylor Swift.
Further investigation revealed damage to a cabinet and an outlet cover in Room 301, with repair costs estimated at $1,010. School surveillance footage showed Slater entering the school around 6:30 p.m. and wandering the building until his arrest at 11:27 p.m.
Slater was arrested and charged with First Degree Burglary, felony Resisting Arrest, First Degree Property Damage, and First Degree Harassment. He was transported to Pettis County Jail, where his bond was set at $25,000.