ST. CLAIR COUNTY SHERIFF

Sheriff Scott Keeler reported deputies made nine arrests and took a trespass report during the week of April 23-30, 2018.

Warrant Arrests

Nicholas Swoboda- On April 29, Nicholas Swoboda, 35, Independence, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant charging him with a class D felony possession of a controlled substance and a class D misdemeanor unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond is set at $15,000 cash or surety.

The charges come after a St. Clair County deputy stopped a vehicle, that Swoboda was a passenger in, for faulty equipment. The driver of the vehicle gave the deputy consent to search it. During the search, Swoboda was walking around, holding up his pants in a strange manner. The deputy asked Swoboda if he would be willing to empty his pockets. After releasing his pants a pouch containing zip lock bags of a white crystal like substance, multiple syringes, and a glass pipe fell out of his pant leg. Swoboda admitted to the pouch and the stuff in it to be his. The zip lock bags field tested positive for methamphetamine.

Austin Turner- On April 27, Austin Turner, 23, Springfield, was arrested on an unclassified felony for probation violation on a class D felony resisting arrest by fleeing, an unclassified misdemeanor driving while revoked or suspended, a class A misdemeanor failure to yield to an emergency vehicle sounding siren and displaying red/blue lights, a class B misdemeanor exceeded posted speed limit by 26 miles per hour or more, a class B misdemeanor operating a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, and an unclassified misdemeanor operating a motorcycle when the driver’s license is not validated for such operation. Bond is set at $10,000 cash only.             

The charges stem from a St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office investigation on July 16 when deputies were dispatched to assist Osceola Police Department with stopping two motorcycles traveling at a high rate of speed and failing to yield. The motorcycles were originally traveling northbound on Highway 13. When they reached Lowry City they turned around and started traveling southbound on Highway 13. Several deputies joined in the attempt to stop the vehicles. While passing Highway 82 speeds reached approximately 135 miles per hour.                 

The motorcycles continued south on Highway 13 into Polk County. As they approached Highway 32, Bolivar, one motorcycle pulled over and stopped. The driver, Eric Woods, 21, Springfield, was taken into custody and charged with class D felony resisting arrest by fleeing. Turner continued on and eluded law enforcement. He was not apprehended. During the investigation it was discovered Turner’s driver’s license is revoked.

Casey Slaughter- On April 26, Casey Slaughter, 34, Appleton City, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant charging him with a class D felony possession of a controlled substance and a class D misdemeanor unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond is set at $15,000 cash or surety.

The arrest comes after the St. Clair County Special Response Team helped the Mid Missouri Drug Task Force serve a search warrant on a residence in Appleton City.

Heather Carpenter- On April 26, Heather Carpenter, 45, Appleton City, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant charging her with a class D felony possession of a controlled substance and a class D misdemeanor unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond is set at $15,000 cash or surety.

The arrest comes after the St. Clair County Special Response Team helped the Mid Missouri Drug Task Force serve a search warrant on a residence in Appleton City.

Lewis Thomas- On April 26, Lewis Thomas, 70, Osceola, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant charging him with a class C felony manufacture of a controlled substance, a class D felony possession of a controlled substance, and a class D felony unlawful possession of a firearm. This is a no bond warrant.

The charges stem from a June 29, 2015 investigation on NW 526 Road, Osceola, when a search warrant was executed by St. Clair County deputies and members of the Mid Missouri Multi Jurisdiction Drug Task Force. During the search deputies located 10 marijuana plants growing in various locations on Thomas’ property. Several firearms and items associated with the use of methamphetamine were also located and seized as evidence. The items field tested positive for methamphetamine.

Mary Scheer- On April 25, Mary Scheer, 48, Appleton City, was arrested by a St. Clair County deputy on a class E felony domestic assault in the third degree. Scheer is being held for 24 hours pending formal charges.

     The arrest comes after a St. Clair County deputy was dispatched to N Maple in Appleton City in reference to a domestic dispute. Upon arrival, the deputy spoke with Paul Rotert. Rotert stated Scheer came downstairs and starting to argue with him and then struck him in the head with a glass bottle.

Kyle Brashear- On April 23, Kyle Brashear, 20, Kansas City, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant for failing to pay fines on an original class A misdemeanor possession of up to 35 grams of marijuana. Bond is set at $3,770 cash only.

The charge comes after a traffic stop by the Missouri State Highway Patrol on Jan. 8, 2016.

William Eaton- On April 23, William Eaton, 56, Lowry City, was arrested by a St. Clair County deputy on a class A misdemeanor resisting or interfering with arrest/detention/stop and class D misdemeanor unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Eaton was booked and released pending formal charges.

The charges come after a St. Clair County deputy observed the driver, Eaton, commit a traffic violation. While performing a traffic stop, Eaton left the roadway and stopped in a ditch, in front of his brother’s house. The deputy ordered Eaton out of the car and onto the ground. Eaton exited the vehicle, yelling profanities at the deputy, refused the deputy’s verbal commands and walked towards the open garage door of the house. Eaton entered the house and then reappeared after approximately one minute. He was ordered again to the ground and he followed the instructions.

A K9 unit arrived on scene and did an exterior sniff test of the vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics. A search of the vehicle revealed an orange peeler with residue on it. Eaton admitted to using it to clean his marijuana pipes. With permission from the homeowner, the K9 unit did a sniff test of the residence to see if Eaton had hid anything. The K9 alerted to the toilet area.

Eaton admitted he acted the way he did because he wanted to get rid of the baggie in his pocket that had methamphetamine residue in it. He admitted to flushing the baggie down the toilet.

Dakota Smith- On April 22, Dakota Smith, 21, Belton, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant charging him with a class D felony possession of a controlled substance and a class D misdemeanor unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond is set at $3,500 cash or surety.

     The charges come after a St. Clair County deputy conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle violation. The deputy made contact with the driver, Dakota Smith. Smith gave the deputy consent to search the vehicle. During the search a marijuana pipe was found. Smith stated to the deputy there is marijuana in the vehicle. Upon further searching approximately 52 grams of marijuana was located.

Disclaimer: Arrest records are public information. Any indication of an arrest does not mean the individual identified has been convicted of a crime. All persons arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Trespassing in Osceola

On April 23, a St. Clair County deputy spoke with Thomas Schmalz. Schmalz stated that people were riding four wheelers on his property on SE 1131 Rd. He stated he saw two Razor style four wheelers past the purple paint line of his property. Schmalz stated that one ATV was orange and red, the other was black with possible blue on it.

A request for prosecution was filled out.

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