A West Plains man is held on a $250,000 bond after West Plains Police executed a drug raid at a home on West Maple Street.
Christopher A. Wright, 41, is one of three people arrested, according to a press release issued by police, and is charged with second-degree drug trafficking, keeping or maintaining a public nuisance and possession of a controlled substance, all felonies. A second person was arrested on an outstanding warrant and a third was taken into custody on a pending charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
A probable cause statement filed by Officer Jacob Brixey shows the warrant was served at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, and included all vehicles and outbuildings at the residence.
A perimeter was set up at the house and officers knocked and announced their presence, then ordered all occupants to come to the door.
Brixey reported contact was immediately made with eight individuals, and the ninth person, Wright, was seen soon after, coming from a bathroom in the line of sight of the main door. Everyone was ordered out of the house and placed in hand restraints, Brixey added.
Evidence photos were taken of the residence before the search began, and items of evidence were photographed as they were found, the statement said. The search turned up a total of $738 in cash, $500 of which was in a plastic bag, $198 in Wright's wallet, and $40 on him.
Drug paraphernalia reportedly found included multiple pipes with burnt residue, five glass smoking devices with a burnt crystalline residue, and eight used syringes.
Additionally, in Wright's bedroom officers allegedly found multiple clear plastic baggies apparently intended for the sale and distribution of narcotics, a scale and a clear plastic bag of seven pills stamped with a mark that identified them as acetaminophen/hydrocodone.
In the bathroom, Brixey reported, officers found two clear plastic bags containing a white crystalline substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine and another that had a white residue. The two bags of white crystalline substance had a combined weight of about 35.89 grams, including bag weight, Brixey added. That is about 1.27 ounces. The pills and suspected meth will be sent to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Lab for further testing.
Brixey requested the money seized be forfeited under the Criminal Activity Forfeiture Act (CAFA), where cash or other property used or acquired through criminal activity is held by the state through a CAFA proceeding.
Brixey said in public court documents that, on Sept. 16, officers responded to a suspected narcotics overdose where a woman was found dead. A weekly press report disseminated by the police department on Sept. 17 shows that the overdose death occurred at the same house. A later toxicology report showed her death as associated with fentanyl overdose and methamphetamine toxicity.
The probable cause statement pertaining to Wednesday’s search also said that on Jan. 10, officers served a search warrant at the house and located several pills that were controlled substances and over 30 grams of methamphetamine. Wright reportedly made a statement following that incident that he had "bought and sold meth to thousands of people."
In that case, Wright was charged with second-degree drug trafficking, unlawful use of a weapon by having a weapon and a felony controlled substance, and keeping or maintaining a public nuisance, all felonies.
He was released with a $100,000 bond two days after that arrest, court records show, and his attorney is Public Defender Larry Burton.
Both cases are being prosecuted by Howell County Prosecutor Mike Hutchings and Assistant Prosecutor Jodi Wake. Wright has yet to have a future court date in the latest case.
