A traffic stop made Sunday by a Texas County Sheriff’s Department deputy led to multiple felony charges against a county man and woman.
Melissa Shafer, 23, of Houston, is charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, two counts of felony endangering the welfare of a child and a misdemeanor charge of no insurance. Erik S. Warren, 29, of Summersville, is charged with felony delivery of a controlled substance and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
The deputy wrote in a report that the traffic stop was initiated when a small car with no rear registration plate was observed swerving within the lane at Highway 17 and Midvale Road near Summersville.
The officer made contact with the driver – Shafer – and a man in the front passenger’s seat – Warren. Two children were asleep in the vehicle. The officer obtained permission to search the vehicle. During the search, a bag containing several items related to drug use was found, along with a plastic bag containing several large pieces of a crystal substance consistent with methamphetamine.
Shafer and Warren were then placed in handcuffs by the officer and another deputy who arrived on scene. Shafer was then asked if she had anything illegal on her person and she said she had hidden a pill bottle inside a bodily cavity.
Her parents were then contacted to take possession of the two children until Child Services could be contacted.
The pair were transported to the Texas County Jail, where a female jailer retrieved the pill bottle from Shafer and it was seized as evidence. It was found to contain plastic bags with more crystal-like substance inside.
Both suspects reportedly admitted to having snorted meth within about two hours of the traffic stop, and both stated the children were present at the time. Shafer said she got the drugs from Warren.
The seized drugs were sent to the Missouri State Highway Patrol lab for analysis.
Shafer and Warren are each held in jail on $200,000 bond.