ST. CLAIR COUNTY SHERIFF

Sheriff Scott Keeler reported deputies made 10 arrests and took two stealing reports during the week of May 20-27, 2019.

Warrant Arrests

Nicholas Austin- On May 26, Nicholas Austin, 21, El Dorado Springs, was arrested by a St. Clair County deputy on a class B misdemeanor property damage in the second degree. Austin was placed on a 24 hour hold pending formal charges.

The arrest comes after a St. Clair County deputy was dispatched to a suspicious person walking down Highway WW and punching mailboxes. Austin also tore some signs down at the car wash.

George Lemley- On May 25, George Lemley, 55, Collins, was arrested by a St. Clair County deputy on a class A misdemeanor domestic assault in the fourth degree and an infraction charge for trespassing in the second degree. Lemley was placed on a 24 hour hold pending formal charges.

The arrest comes after a St. Clair County deputy was dispatched to a residence on Highway 54 in reference to trespassing. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with Lemley. Lemley was holding a pair of pliers and was ordered to drop them.

The victim stated Lemley was looking through the windows of the house at her. The victim also stated Lemley had made threats against her.

David Hill- On May 23, David Hill, 48, Osceola, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant charging him with a class D felony kidnapping, a class E felony domestic assault in the third degree, and an unclassified felony for armed criminal action. Bond is set at $15,000 cash only.

The arrest comes after a St. Clair County deputy was dispatched to a residence on Highway WW in reference to a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with the victim. The victim stated Hill had assaulted her by chocking her and throwing an object at her, causing her injuries. Hill had fled the scene, but was contacted by a deputy while he was walking along Highway WW. Hill had a hatchet and a knife on his person when the deputy made contact with him.

Cody Maples- On May 22, Cody Maples, 29, McCook, NE, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant charging him with a probation violation on a two original class C felony charges for forgery. Bond is set at $2,500 cash only.

The original charges stem from an investigation by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office in December of 2009.

Garrett Murphy- On May 22, Garrett Murphy, 24, Strafford, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant charging him with a class D felony possession of a controlled substance, a class E felony unlawful use of a weapon, and a class D misdemeanor unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond is set at $5,000 cash or surety.

The warrant comes after a St. Clair County deputy performed a traffic stop on the vehicle Murphy was driving for multiple equipment violations on March 16, 2019. After making contact with the driver, the deputy asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle. Murphy did state he had a pistol on his person. The deputy had Murphy step out of the vehicle so that he could retrieve the weapon and secure for safety reasons. The deputy asked for and was denied consent to search the vehicle. The deputy informed Murphy he was going to have a K9 unit come to the scene. Murphy then handed the deputy a glass pipe from his jacket along with a zip lock bag with a crystal like substance.

Murphy then gave the deputy consent to search the vehicle. During the search of the vehicle the deputy recovered the marijuana, two syringes, another zip lock bag with a crystal like substance, a camouflage plastic container with a crystal like substance, and multiple rounds of ammo for the weapon.  The glass pipe did field test positive for methamphetamine.

Austin Nance- On May 22, Austin Nance, 23, Osceola, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant charging him with a class C felony manufacturing a controlled substance, a class E felony keeping or maintaining a public nuisance, and a class D misdemeanor unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Total bond is set at $20,000 cash or surety.

The original charges stem from an investigation by the Mid Missouri Drug Task Force.

Randy Knight- On May 20, Randy Knight, 67, El Dorado Springs, was arrested by a St. Clair County Deputy on a class D felony burglary in the second degree. Knight was placed on a 24 hour hold pending formal charges.

The arrest comes after St. Clair County deputies were dispatched to the Roscoe boat ramp in reference to a burglary. Upon arrival, the deputies made contact with Rebecca Schanuth. Schanuth stated that when she and her boyfriend went to her cabin to do some grounds keeping, she noticed a screen on one of the windows was cut. She then heard a noise coming from inside the cabin. Schanuth yelled at the person and the subject, Knight, came back out of the window.

Keith Bailey- On May 20, Keith Bailey, 34, Appleton City, was arrested by a St. Clair County deputy on a class D felony possession of a controlled substance and a class D misdemeanor unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Bailey was placed on a 24 hour hold pending formal charges.

The arrest comes after St. Clair County deputies were dispatched to the Dollar General Store in Lowry City in reference to people trespassing. Upon arrival, the deputies made contact with three subjects. A deputy was denied consent to search the vehicle. A K9 unit was called to the scene to perform an exterior sniff test of the vehicle. The K9 did alert to the odor of narcotics. During the search of the vehicle, a parking lot light was located in the trunk of the vehicle. A search of Bailey revealed two glass pipes that were hidden on his person.

Tamara Herdman- On May 20, Tamara Herdman, 52, Appleton City, was arrested by a St. Clair County deputy on a class A misdemeanor trespassing and a class B misdemeanor stealing. Herdman was placed on a 24 hour hold pending formal charges.

The arrest comes after St. Clair County deputies were dispatched to the Dollar General Store in Lowry City in reference to people trespassing. Upon arrival, the deputies made contact with three subjects. During a search of the vehicle, a parking lot light was located in the trunk of the vehicle. 

Renee Houk- On May 20, Renee Houk, 39, Appleton City, was arrested by a St. Clair County deputy on a class A misdemeanor trespassing and a class B misdemeanor stealing. Herdman was placed on a 24 hour hold pending formal charges. During a search of the vehicle, a parking lot light was located in the trunk of the vehicle. 

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.

Stealing in Lowry City

On May 25, a St. Clair County deputy was dispatched to Viking Storage on Highway 13 in reference to stealing. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with Deborah Ferguson, who stated the last time she was at her storage unit was May 15 and everything was fine. She stated when she arrived on May 25, someone had been into her unit and went through her things.

Ferguson stated that a Motorguide 70 pound thrust trolling motor, a Peany Bandit guitar amp, and a set of PA speakers were missing. Estimated total loss value is $500.

Stealing near Lowry City

On May 24, a St. Clair County deputy was dispatched to a property on Highway C in reference to stealing. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with Renee Broman. She stated her husband, John, had noticed two gas cans setting behind a U Haul truck. John walked over to the truck and noticed the gas cap was off. A black hose and two gas cans were setting behind the truck.

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.