CLARK COUNTY, MO. -- A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper attempted to make a routine traffic stop Thursday afternoon in Clark County. After the driver failed to pull over, the trooper began chase.
Other officers from both the Clark County Sheriff's Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol picked up the chase, south of Kahoka, when the vehicle went through a yard, dropping speed and a passenger exited the vehicle.
Timothy William Wrieden, 27, of Keokuk, Iowa, was immediately taken into custody at that time and was transported to the Clark County Sheriff's Office.
The driver of the vehicle continued down US Hwy 81 towards the Neeper Conservation area. He then exited the roadway and traveled down into a field, just south of the conservation area. The pickup truck came to a stop and the driver exited on foot. An active methamphetamine lab was discovered in the back of the truck.
A perimeter was set up and several officers from different agencies, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Clark County Sheriff's Office, the Scotland County Sheriff's, the Kahoka Police Department and the North Missouri Drug Task Force, responded to the search.
Neighboring citizens were contacted and notified to stay inside, lock doors and to call if there were any suspicious activities, but not to answer their doors to any strangers.
A man hunt was underway. An airplane from the Missouri State Highway Patrol was called in and assisted officers on the ground narrowing down places of interest and searched for the suspect from above. Over 6 hours were spent searching for the suspect, by air and by ground. The search was eventually called off before dark.
The suspect was later discovered in the area and was arrested. He was identified as Derek Alexander Westwater, 26, of Fort Wayne, Indiana
Both suspects are being held at the Clark County Sheriff's Office on $100,000 Cash Only Bond, for Distribution/Deliver/Manufacture/Produce or Attempt to or Possess With Intent to Distribute/Deliver/Manufacture/Produce a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) and Unlawful Use of Drug Paraphernalia (Methamphetamine), awaiting there appearance in court.
Information provided by the Clark County Sheriff's Office
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