A drug-trafficking investigation led to the arrest Tuesday night of four persons following a pursuit in Texas County.
Licking residents John R. Paulson, born in 1958, and Taylor W.E. Owens, born in 2000, are charged with two counts of first-degree trafficking drugs, a class A and class B felony; and tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution, a class E felony.
Two others also now face the same charges: Michael S. Skouby, born in 1981, who was the driver of the vehicle and allegedly had 60 Fentanyl capsules weighing 7.8 grams on his person. Skye C. Marler Giller, born in 1999. Both are from Licking.
Authorities said the South Central Drug Task Force developed information that led to a traffic stop by the Missouri State Highway Patrol near the intersection of Highway CC and Shafer Road north of Licking. The 2007 Pontiac G6 accelerated, and a pursuit ensued. Tire deflation devices were used on the vehicle and it came to a stop just south of Arnott Road on Shafer Road.
The driver, Skouby, and three passengers were detained after authorities allegedly found fentanyl capsules and methamphetamine inside the vehicle at about 10:15 p.m. Some suspected drugs were tossed along Shafer Road, according to a report. Authorities said they learned that drugs were procured in St. Louis.
The Texas County Sheriff’s Department inventoried:
- About 40.3 grams of a crystalline substance seized from the roadway that field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
- About 5.7 grams of a scattered crystalline substance collected from the back and front seats.
- About 35 capsules weighing 3.2 grams that tested positive as fentanyl from the roadway.
- About six capsules weighing 3.2 grams that tested positive as fentanyl from the back seat floorboard and front’s driver’s seat.
All included the weight of bag containers.
Bonds are set at $3,500 cash only for Paulson and Owens. Bonds for the other two had not been released early Thursday.