Two people sit in the Butler County jail on drug and other charges after allegedly leading police officers on a chase Saturday afternoon.
Quinton S. Wilson, 43, of Lawrence, Kansas, has been charged with the Class C felony of delivery of a controlled substance, the Class D felony of unlawful possession of a firearm and the Class E felony of resisting arrest and creating a substantial risk of serious injury or death. Meanwhile, Courtney J. Wilcox, 37, of Kansas City, Kansas, has been charged with the Class C felony of delivery of a controlled substance, the Class D felony of possession of a controlled substance and the Class E felony of unlawful use of a weapon.
According to a press release from the Poplar Bluff Police Department and his probable cause statement, Det. Corey Mitchell was patrolling a neighborhood near North Main Street when he reportedly tried to stop a dark blue 2007 Volkswagen Jetta with an improper Kansas temporary tag.
The vehicle allegedly fled, and a vehicle pursuit ensued. The pursuit continued until officers lost the vehicle on South Westwood Boulevard. According to Mitchell, the Jetta allegedly was driving faster than 80 miles per hour at one point and also drove south in the northbound lanes of Westwood Boulevard south of the intersection with Highway 53.
A short time later, PBPD officers received a report of a vehicle in the ditch on Linwood Drive. Officers responded to the area and Mitchell reportedly identified a male and female nearby as the driver and passenger. The two were taken into custody and the vehicle was impounded.
After the pair was taken into custody, Mitchell searched Wilcox’s tote bag and allegedly found nine bags of marijuana which were later found to weigh in excess of 145 grams. Mitchell also allegedly found a .380 semi-automatic handgun with five rounds in the magazine in Wilcox’s backpack and a pair of digital scales that allegedly are used in weighing illicit narcotics. While being interviewed at PBPD headquarters, Wilcox allegedly removed a bag of crystal methamphetamine from her bra weighing in excess of five grams.
“These suspects brought drugs and weapons into our community, and their reckless escape attempt placed hundreds of Poplar Bluff residents and several of our officers in danger,” Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley said.
Wilson is being held without bond in the Butler County jail, while Wilcox is being held in the Butler County jail on $25,000 bond. Both were arraigned at the Butler County courthouse Monday morning.