Caller reports couple, drug charges filed

Published: Sunday, October 12, 2008
Updated: Sunday, October 12, 2008 8:06 AM CDT

What 911 dispatchers called a "rolling domestic" turned out to be a rolling meth lab.

Early Friday night, a motorist called 911 and reported that a man and woman who were leaving Wal-Mart were hitting each other.

The driver stayed on the phone and followed the couple until police pulled them over as they exited U.S. 67  into Bonne Terre.

Bonne Terre Officer Alex Shibley placed the Bonne Terre woman and Belgrade man under arrest for domestic assault and for having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.

Shibley searched the truck and found a gray cooler in the bed of the truck. The cooler contained starter fluid, drain cleaner, muriatic acid and coffee filters — which are all items used in the manufacture of meth. Inside the truck, he found two mason jars, also commonly used in the manufacture process.

Shibley said he patted down the man and woman and found a syringe in the woman’s sock. At the jail, a further search was done and police say they found an eyeglass case in the woman’s waistband. They say the case contained syringes, lithium batteries, a metal spoon and a baggy containing Sudafed pills and crushed pseudoephedrine.

Police will be asking prosecutors to charge the man with third-degree domestic assault, possession of a precursor with intent to make meth, and possession of an open container. Shibley believes the man is currently on probation or parole for endangering the welfare of a child and domestic assault.

They will ask prosecutors to charge the woman with third-degree domestic assault, possession of a precursor with intent to make meth, possession of ephedrine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of an open container.

This is one of several drug-related arrests Shibley has made this month. Bonne Terre Police were assisted by  St. Francois County MoSMART Officer Bruce Momot.

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