Police are investigating whether bail bond agents in southwest Missouri acted inappropriately when they raided the wrong house, frightening a couple and their three teenage children.

The incident comes as a state-appointed committee is reviewing the licensing rules and other policies governing the bond agent industry in Missouri.

The study, overseen by the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration, was ordered by state legislators earlier this year.

The bond agents in Springfield were looking on Nov. 1 for Andrew J. Hegger, who had escaped from a Eureka jail while awaiting trial on charges of driving while intoxicated.

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Allen and Roberta Cox said the four bail bond agents, dressed like SWAT team members, burst into their home with guns drawn and demanded to know where Hegger was.

The Coxes said they had never seen Hegger before but sent agents to a nearby home after one of the bondsmen mentioned the name of a woman who had been staying with neighbors.

The Coxes said the agents pointed guns at their children and left Allen Cox with a possible fractured rib. They are waiting to see if the agents will be charged.

The agents eventually tracked down Hegger, who was returned to jail.

"I'm still just really shocked over the whole deal," Allen Cox said Friday. "They just screwed up and got the wrong house."

Springfield police Maj. Kevin Routh said the investigation into the incident was ongoing. Police have not named the bail bond agents involved.

The 15-member state-appointed committee, which includes members of the Legislature, law enforcement, the bail bond industry and Missouri judges, has been holding public hearings on the industry.

Greene County Presiding Judge Dan Conklin, who is on the committee, said the goal is to determine if the current system is working as intended and to identify areas that could be improved.

The group has until Jan. 6 to submit a report to the Legislature.

"One of the things that we're discussing is that there be stronger provisions for policing licensees," Conklin said, noting that the DIFP has only one full-time employee devoted to investigating complaints about bail bond agents.

Another likely recommendation, he said, is that people with past felony convictions be banned from obtaining bail bond agent licenses.

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Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.news-leader.com