West Plains Police conducted a traffic stop March 13 on a vehicle with a driver suspected of distributing illegal narcotics, leading to a search of the vehicle, which turned up illegal substances, according to police. The stop was made while officers were en route to serve a search warrant at a home on Burke Avenue, which was also the home of the vehicle’s driver, according to a probable cause statement submitted to prosecutors by Officer Jacob Brixey.
Court records show officers were on their way to serve a narcotics search warrant at the home of Jennifer L. Webb, 28, when it was learned she and another person had left the residence in Webb's vehicle. An officer saw the driver and Webb not wearing seat belts as the vehicle traveled on Ramseur Road, initiated a traffic stop, and positively identified Webb and the other woman.
The officer ordered both of them out of the vehicle as other officers arrived, including Cpl. Brent McKemie and K9 officer Tito. During a free air sniff around the vehicle, the dog alerted to the presence of narcotics was given, according to Brixey’s statement.
After the two suspects were read their rights, a search of the vehicle uncovered a mirror with white crystalline residue, a white crystalline substance sitting in the passenger's seat and a plastic food container under the passenger's seat that held several small bags and a large bag containing a white crystalline substance.
Webb was found to have $168 in cash, and the money and her cell phone were seized as evidence, the document shows. It was noted in the report there were eight clear plastic bags containing a substance that field-tested positive for meth that were labeled with a "B," likely indicating they each contained a "ball," or 3.5 grams, of methamphetamine.
Another four bags were reportedly marked with a "T," likely indicating they contained a "teener" of meth, or about 1.75 grams. Another large bag of the substance and other clear empty bags that were the same print and design as the filled bags that were reportedly found.
Webb was then shown a copy of the search warrant for her home and allegedly told officers they would find the same substances in a drawer of a nightstand in her bedroom, and commented she was on the way to pick up her three children from daycare when the vehicle was pulled over.
Brixey passed along the information to officers who were at Webb's home to conduct the narcotics search, and when taken to the scene, Webb reportedly confirmed the officers found the items she described.
At the home, items confiscated as evidence were a glass smoking device; a clear plastic smoking device; three measuring devices; a scale; a plate and debit or credit card with Webb's name on it, each with suspected drug residue; and four plastic bags containing a white crystalline substance. It was noted the items were found in a location that could have been easily accessed by Webb's children.
Brixey reported the 13 bags that contained the suspected drugs weighed 115.5 grams total, or about 4 ounces, including the bag weight.
Webb is charged with a count each of second-degree drug trafficking and possession of a controlled substance, and three counts of first-degree child endangerment involving drugs, all felonies.
Court records show Webb posted a $50,000 bond on Tuesday and is scheduled for a bond appearance hearing Monday in court before Associate 37th Circuit Judge R. David Ray.
Charges have not been filed against the driver of Webb's vehicle as of Friday afternoon, according to online court records.
