County authorities are searching for a woman who last week was charged with four felonies related to methamphetamine.
Texas County prosecutor Parke Stevens Jr. on Jan. 15 charged Tina M. Bertrand, 26, of 689 Finley Drive in Cabool, with possession of a controlled substance, distribution or intent to distribute controlled substance, smuggling a controlled substance into a county jail and endangering the welfare of a child resulting from a series of incidents that began in late November.
According to a probable cause statement submitted by a deputy involved in the case, Bertrand was arrested Nov. 25 at her residence on an outstanding warrant. While at her home, the officer found a cotton swab in Bertrand’s car that tested positive for meth.
She was then taken to the Texas County Jail where she was booked and released.
The deputy reported that on Dec. 12 he received a phone call from an anonymous source indicating Bertrand had left a tin can in his patrol car that contained meth. The container was located between the vehicle’s seats and had three bags of meth and various items of paraphernalia inside.
Bertrand was arrested again on Dec. 14, and during a subsequent interview confessed to leaving the drugs in the car and that she had intended to sell them.
She also reportedly told the interviewing officer she was eight months pregnant and had used meth during her term.
Bertrand was again released pending formal charges late last year.
The smuggling charge was based on the meth being in the patrol car when it entered the jail’s sally port when Bertrand was taken there on Nov. 25.
Bertrand’s bond is set at $500,000. Texas County Sheriff James Sigman said that anyone with information about her whereabouts is encouraged to call 417-967-4165.