Osage County Prosecuting Attorney Amanda Grellner said she plans to file drug-related charges on four individuals this week after a significant amount of fentanyl was seized following a traffic stop.

Sheriff Mike Bonham said his department was acting in concert with the Mid Missouri Drug Task Force (MMDTF), which received information that Kevin Richards, 40, of Eldon, was operating a Chevrolet Tahoe and going to the St. Louis area on Sept. 8 to purchase fentanyl for distribution in Miller and Pettis counties.

An MMDTF officer followed the Tahoe in question during the early morning hours of Sept. 9 as it headed westbound on Hwy. 44, near Rolla, to St. Roberts. According to the probable cause statement filed by the MMDTF, the Tahoe cruised around St. Roberts from 4-7 a.m., after which the driver headed north on Hwy. 63.

Deputy Richard Jarvis conducted a traffic stop on northbound Hwy. 63 and Main Street in Westphalia at approximately 10:45 a.m.

Jarvis described Adrian Wilde, 40, of Eldon, as the driver of this Tahoe. Richards (front passenger seat), Ciara Davis (rear driver’s seat), 32, of Eldon, and Heather Allen (rear passenger seat), 49, of Eldon, were also in the Tahoe.

Jarvis reported that when contacting the occupants of the Tahoe, Richards’ and Wilde’s movements appeared nervous, and Davis and Allen moved rapidly to attend to the bags and other items in the backseat. According to the PC statement, Richards, Davis, Wilde, and Allen are all on bond in Miller County for narcotics-related offenses. 

A Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System (MULES) check showed Davis to have an active warrant, and the Missouri registration did not match the VIN of the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe. Richards and Wilde denied consent to search the vehicle. Richards further advised he did not have insurance on the vehicle.

Miller County Deputy Westen Browner and K-9 Ghost arrived on the scene and advised a positive alert for the odor of narcotics from the Tahoe. A search warrant was applied for and received for the vehicle. 

During the search of the Tahoe, an orange capsule was in the driver’s seat, an orange capsule labeled “M Amphet Salts” was located under the passenger seat, along with a wallet containing Wilde’s United States Federal Probation and Parole identification with a Suboxone buprenorphine and naloxone strip located under the ID, and a cigarette container in the backseat with a Suboxone buprenorphine and naloxone strip and marijuana in it.

After being advised of their Miranda rights, interviews were conducted with Allen, Davis, Wilde, and Richards, all of whom said that Richards had gone to the St. Louis area and purchased fentanyl on Sept. 8-9. 

According to the PC statement, Richards told deputies that when he returned, Wilde, Davis, and Allen, had consumed the fentanyl he had purchased. Wilde and Richards said all four of them had then consumed the fentanyl. Davis advised Richards had only returned from St. Louis with 10 or so fentanyl capsules. All four admitted to using fentanyl in the 72 hours before the arrest.

Osage County Jail staff advised they had received a statement and video of Davis placing an object under the booking desk in the jail. This written statement notes that Davis had told an individual in the Osage County Jail that there was a container under the booking desk that contained two types of drugs and to be careful. 

An MMDTF officer reviewed video footage of the Osage County Jail’s booking area and observed Davis dropping something on the floor near the booking desk and then pushing an object under the desk further during her booking process. He then observed Davis, Wilde, and Allen attempting to retrieve the item while being released from the Osage County Jail. Wilde and Allen made several attempts to retrieve this item under the booking desk. The video shows the individual who wrote the statement and Osage County Jail staff locating the item shortly after Richards, Davis, Allen, and Wilde exited the jail.

A vapor inhaler was located under the booking desk containing 11 capsules and a bag of white crystal. One of the 11 capsules and the capsule located in the driver’s seat of the Tahoe tested positive for the presence of fentanyl. Only one of the 11 capsules located in the vapor inhaler was tested. All the capsules were located together and presumed to contain the same substance. The bag of white crystal later tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine. Both Suboxone buprenorphine and naloxone strips were identified using drugs.com as buprenorphine and naloxone 8mg/2mg, a controlled substance. The pill labeled M Amphet Salts was identified using drugs.com as Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine Extended Release 20mg, also a controlled substance.

Davis, Wilde, and Allen gave consent to search their phone, during which an MMDTF officer located text messages on Wilde’s and Davis’ phones talking about stealing drugs and Richards going to St. Louis to pick up drugs to make money for Davis’ bondsman.

In addition to believing the defendants will not appear in court, MMDTF noted that fentanyl is a deadly drug that can be absorbed through the skin. This fine powder can be lethal to anyone who has contact with this substance. A lethal dose of fentanyl, as described by the DEA, is 0.002 grams, the approximate equivalent to two granules of salt, for an adult of average size and weight. All parties involved are currently on bond for narcotic-related offenses.