Suspicious Vehicle Check Leads to Heroin Bust on Richardson Road

Here is a list of other drug- and alcohol-related incidents the Arnold Police Department handled between Jan. 7 - 13.

Monday, Jan. 7 Officers investigating a suspicious vehicle at U.S. Bank at 3900 Vogel Rd. arrested an 18-year-old Arnold man found to be in possession of 49 grams of marijuana. Possession of more than 35 grams of the drug is a felony. Another passenger in the vehicle, an 18-year-old Arnold woman, was found to be in possession of 2 grams of marijuana. After booking, both were released pending arrest warrant. Tuesday, Jan. 8 Wednesday, Jan. 9 A 33-year-old Imperial was arrested for DWI after he was stopped for a traffic violation at Richardson Road and Marty Drive. He later refused to submit to a breath test. Following booking, he was released to a sober driver. Friday, Jan. 11 Sunday, Jan. 13 See additional DWI arrest from the week: …

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Boyfriend Charged With Murder of Pevely Woman

Brian Edward Smith is being held in Jefferson County Jail in lieu of a $1 million, cash-only bond.

Hanging License Plate Leads to Mobile Meth Lab Bust in Arnold

Jefferson County Sheriff's officers tried to stop the vehicle, which fled and ran off the road. Inside the vehicle and scattered on the roadway was an active meth lab.

A license plate hanging by one bolt led to the discovery of a mobile meth lab in Arnold. Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies observed on Nov. 24 a 1994 Toyota Camry with an improperly affixed front license plate traveling in the area of Old Highway 21 from West Rock Creek.  Officers tried to stop the vehicle on the lot of local gas station with emergency lights and sirens, but it backed up striking a pole protecting one of the gas pumps and accelerated out onto Old Highway 21 traveling north. The driver was crossing both lanes of roadway. After traveling a short while further, the vehicle ran off the road and overturned several times, ejecting the driver from the vehicle. Inside the vehicle and scattered on the roadway was an active meth …

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Festus Man Arrested for Stealing Materials to Make Meth From Walmart

Arnold police called in special unit to destroy meth-making items found in the man's vehicle.

On Thursday Oct. 25, Arnold police arrested a 29-year-old Festus at Walmart at 2201 Michigan Ave. for stealing precursors to manufacture methamphetamine. He was booked and released per application of warrants. Police also arrested a 23-year-old Richwoods man who was with the Festus man for stealing $149 in miscellaneous merchandise, which was retained by the business. He was booked and released. Police notified a special unit to destroy the items found in the suspect's vehicle. 

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New Meth-Busting Decongestant in Local Pharmacies This Month

Zephrex-D is a new decongestant that drug agents say cannot be converted into methamphetamine. A prescription will not be required to purchase the drug in some areas.

Zephrex-D, a new decongestant that its manufacturer and St. Louis-area drug agents say cannot be converted into methamphetamine, is set to hit local pharmacies this month. Since its maker and drug agents say it cannot be converted into meth, it will also be sold without a prescription in some counties that have recently passed ordinances requiring a prescription to purchase pseudo-ephedrine products like Claritin-D and Allegra-D. Zephrex-D is manufactured by Maryland Heights-based Highland Pharmaceuticals. Westport Pharmaceuticals is a subsidiary of Highland. Paul Hemings, with Westport Pharmaceuticals, isn't giving specifics yet, but tells Patch that the drug will soon be shipping to area pharmacies. "We have major retailers lined up. We …

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South County Man Faces Drug Trafficking Charge

Police said an officer spotted the man dropping a bottle that contained a methamphetamine mixture.

A South County man faces a drug charge after police said they found he had more than 30 grams of a methamphetamine mixture. Michael Klaus, 31, of the 2900 block of Highland House Hills in South County near Arnold, was charged Monday with second-degree trafficking in drugs, a class B felony. St. Louis County Police said an officer approached Klaus at 2711 Telegraph Road in Mehlville and saw him drop a bottle with a foamy substance. The officer retrieved the bottle, which tested positive for meth, according to court documents. Police said the bottle had 30 grams of a mixture that included meth. Klaus is being held in Jefferson County jail in lieu of a $50,000 bond. For more information on Arnold Patch, see the following articles:

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Arnold Crime Log

Police: Mobile Meth Lab Found in Arnold Man's Car

St. Louis County police arrested the man in the Gravois Bluffs Plaza parking lot in Fenton.

An Arnold man was charged Aug. 9 with cooking methamphetamine in a mobile lab in his car in Fenton. Dustin Wadsworth, 31, of the 2100 block of Plaza Drive in Arnold, was charged with manufacturing or producing meth. (See related on Patch: Burglar Makes $7,000 Haul in Coins, Currency, Computer) St. Louis County police said they found a one-pot meth lab in his car on Jan. 8 at in the Gravois Bluffs Plaza parking lot. Bond was set at $25,000. For more crime information on Arnold Patch, see the following articles:

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Arnold Woman Who is Walmart Meth Lab Suspect Arrested Again

The woman was arrested Monday night in connection with another mobile meth lab.

The 32-year-old woman that police say brought a mobile meth lab into Walmart June 7 was arrested again Monday night at the U-Gas on Telegraph Road.  Officers from the South County Precinct responded to a suspicious person call at approximately 10:30 p.m. and observed the woman throw a bottle toward the dumpster.  Police recognized the woman as Jennifer Vaughn, of Arnold, who was arrested June 7 after officers found a portable meth lab in her purse at Walmart. Vaughn had been detained on suspicion of shoplifting when officers discovered a bottle containing meth, also known as a "shake and bake" lab. Officials evacuated the Walmart and closed the store for nearly three hours. County police discovered a similar bottle at the U-Gas and also …

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Jefferson County Sheriff's Department Crime Log

Two De Soto People Sentenced on Federal Drug Charges

The two people pleaded guilty to conspiring to make methamphetamine, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Glen J. Kennemore and Tanya E. Kennemore, both of De Soto, MO pleaded guilty to the felony charge of conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. Glen was sentenced to 28 months in prison, on May 25, for February 2009 events. Tanya was sentenced, on June 1, to 60 months in prison for her actions in February 2011, a U.S. Attorney's Office news release said. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the cases. Methamphetamine, also called meth, causes a feeling of happiness in people who snort, smoke, or inject the drug, said the National Institute of Drug Abuse website. The National Institute of Health manages the website. Meth use changes …

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Two Arnold Residents Arrested on Federal Meth Conspiracy Charges

Multiple local and federal law enforcement agencies participated to arrest a total of 21 Jefferson and Franklin county individuals.

Angela J. Holley, 33, and Aaron A. Lyerla, 33, both of Arnold were among the 21 individuals from Jefferson and Franklin counties arrested Wednesday on charges that they were part of a methamphetamine manufacturing and distributing network operating from 2009 to 2011, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in St. Louis The charges are part of an indictment that was returned on May 16 but remained sealed until Wednesday afternoon. Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in the arrests, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Franklin County Narcotics Enforcement Unit and the Kirkwood and Pacific City Police Departments. "The arrest of these individuals signals our agency’s continuing commitment to …

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