ST CLAIR COUNTY SHERIFF

The complete St. Clair County Sheriff’s office  news release Oct. 23-30, 2017

Sheriff Scott Keeler reported deputies made seven arrests, took a stealing report, and a burglary report during the week of Oct. 23-30, 2017.

Warrant Arrests

Oct. 24 – Zachery Angst, 35, St. Joseph, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant for failure to appear in court on an original unclassified misdemeanor charge of driving while suspended/revoked-first degree and a class B misdemeanor of exceeding the posted speed limit by 26 mph or more. Total bond is set at $1,330 cash only.

The charges stem from a traffic stop on Sept. 2, 2016, by a St. Clair County deputy.

Oct. 25 – Justin Ward, 27, Elkland, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant for failing to appear in court on an original class D misdemeanor of driving while revoked/suspended. Bond is set at $262.50 cash only.

The original charge stems from a traffic stop by the Missouri State Highway Patrol on Jan. 8, 2017.

Oct. 25  Casey Watkins, 31, Springfield, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant charging her with a class D felony, possession of a controlled substance and a class A misdemeanor of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond is set at $15,000 cash or surety.

  The arrest comes after a K9 did an exterior sniff test of vehicles in the parking lot. The K9 alerted to the presence of narcotics on a vehicle that was registered to Watkins. Deputies waited for her to exit the Sheriff’s office and made contact with her. They explained that the K9 alerted to the presence of narcotics on her vehicle and that they were going to search her vehicle. She admitted to having a pipe in her purse that was sitting on the front seat. The pipe field tested positive for methamphetamines.

Oct. 26 – Samuel Wellington, 24, Clinton, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant charging him with a class D felonious possession of a controlled substance and a class D misdemeanor of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond is set at $10,000 cash or surety.

The charges stem from an Osceola Police Department traffic stop on June 24, 2017.

Oct. 28 – Stephanie Gilbert, 50, Springfield, was arrested during a traffic stop by a St. Clair County deputy for a class C felony of receiving stolen property. Gilbert was booked and released pending formal charges.

The deputy pulled Gilbert over for careless and imprudent driving. The deputy made contact with Gilbert and saw that she was upset and crying. She stated that people were trying to run her off the road. The deputy asked if Gilbert would step out of the vehicle and speak with him. As she stepped out of the vehicle she stated that there was a loaded pistol in her backpack. The deputy asked for consent to search her vehicle and to check the firearm to make sure it was legal. Gilbert gave consent, but didn’t know if the gun was legal, because she had bought it from an individual.

  A record check of the firearm showed that it was stolen out of Springfield, MO.

Oct. 29 – Caitlyn Payne, 21, Humansville, was arrested during an investigation into a medical call at Pilot Travel Center in Collins. Payne was arrested on a class D felony of possession of a controlled substance. She was booked and released pending formal charges.

St. Clair County deputies made contact with Payne, along with Seth Loehr and Kiah Gannaway. Loehr stated his friend, Chad Alspaugh, was having a medical episode in the backseat of the vehicle. Alspaugh stated he needed an ambulance because he thought he was dying. He also stated that he had used methamphetamines recently.

  The deputies asked Payne if there were any drugs in the vehicle and she said no and began to act very nervous. The deputy asked dispatch to have a K9 come out and do an exterior sniff test of the vehicle. The K9 did alert on the vehicle and the deputies conducted a search of the vehicle. Some paraphernalia was found with a white powder residue on it.

Before entering the jail, Payne was asked if she had anything illegal on her person. It was explained it would be a higher charge if she did bring anything illegal into the facility. Payne then handed a plastic baggie with a white crystalline substance to the deputy.

Oct. 29 – Kiah Gannaway, 28, Wheatland, was arrested by a St. Clair County deputy on a Polk County warrant for failing to appear in court on an infraction. Bond is set at $50 cash only.

Gannaway was a passenger in a vehicle that was searched at Pilot Travel Center in Collins. A records check showed that he had a warrant out of Polk County.

Stealing Report in Collins

Oct. 23 – A St. Clair County deputy took a stealing report from Amanda Hancock. Hancock stated that she and the other witness, Julian Barry, met Jody Tanner at Cox North in Springfield. She stated that during their conversation Tanner told them about a computer for sale in Osceola. They started to drive to Osceola and Tanner told them they were going to meet at Pilot Travel Center in Collins.

Hancock said they pulled into Pilot and a black HHR pulled up next to them. While there, Tanner was insistent for the money for the computer. Hancock handed the money to Barry, and he handed it to Tanner. She stated that Tanner then took his bag from the back seat of the car and jumped into the HHR and sped off.

Video surveillance was collected from Pilot. The case is ongoing.

  Burglary Report in Collins

  Oct. 26- A St. Clair County deputy was dispatched to SE 671 R d, Collins, in for a report of a burglary.

   The deputy arrived on scene and spoke with Kevin Wisner. Wisner said he was advised from an employee of the Wheeler and Sons Livestock Auction, the door on his mother’s building was open.

    Wisner had entered into the building prior to the deputy’s arrival. When the deputy made entry into the building, he noticed there was damage to the doorway at the dead bolt lock and a pry mark below the dead bolt on the door jam. As he walked in the building he observed glass broken in multiple areas of the building. Wisner said he did notice the cases broken and that costume jewelry missing. Wisner said he did not know what all was missing from the building, but his mother would know more.

   A request for prosecution and probable cause statement were signed and evidence was collected from the scene.

Sheriff Keeler urges those with any related information to this case or any others to contact the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line, 417-646-5832, or email to tips@scsomo.org