VAN BUREN — Observations made by a South Central Drug Task Force officer Tuesday morning resulted in the seizure of nearly 2 ounces of suspected methamphetamine and the arrest of two.
At about 9:10 a.m. Tuesday, Carter County Chief Deputy Justin Eudaley, according to his probable-cause statement, was contacted by Cpl. Jason Kuessner with the South Central Drug Task Force.
“(Kuessner) stated he observed a white male identified as Mr. Jayson Passmore … put what he believed to be narcotics in a vehicle,” said Eudaley, who indicated he retrieved Passmore from the Carter County courtroom.
“Cpl. Kuessner spoke with him, and Mr. Passmore informed (him) he put capsules filled with methamphetamine in the pocket of the door of his vehicle,” Eudaley said.
Kuessner, with Eudaley’s assistance, reportedly searched the vehicle.
“It should be noted approximately 54 grams (1.89 ounces) of a white powdery substance was located, and it tested presumptively positive for methamphetamine,” Eudaley said.
A search warrant subsequently was applied for and executed on the Mill Street resident Passmore shared with Lacey Petrekovich.
Assisting in the search were officers with the sheriff’s department, task force, Ellsinore Police Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol.
“During the search of their residence, a white powdery substance was located, which field tested presumptively positive for methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and stolen property” were found and seized as evidence, Eudaley said.
The stolen property, according to Eudaley, included personal items allegedly stolen out of a vehicle in Butler County.
Scales and two firearms, according to Sheriff Rick Stephens, also were found inside the residence.
Passmore, 41, and Petrekovich, 35, were arrested and subsequently charged with the Class D felony of possession of a controlled substance by Carter County Prosecuting Attorney Hannah Pender.
“We’ve had interactions recently with these two people on numerous fronts,” Stephens said.
Passmore and Petrekovich’s bonds are set at $20,000 cash or corporate surety.