Callaway County deputies arrested four people on drug charges in a period of one hour Tuesday evening.
Callaway County Sheriff Clay Chism said the four arrested were: D'Metreous Austin, 20; Austen Stinnett, 20; and Dominique Ford, 20; all of Fulton; and Antonio Chester, 32, of Holts Summit.
At 1:17 p.m. Tuesday, a deputy was patrolling Route F and stopped a vehicle driven by Austin for a traffic violation. During the investigation, other vehicle occupants were identified as Stinnett and Ford.
Deputies then found various felony-level controlled substances in the vehicle. Deputies also located items related to the sale of drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Austin was arrested for felony delivery of a controlled substance, felony possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. According to Missouri Case.net, in 2014 Austin was charged with a felony drug charge and given five years supervised probation.
Stinnett was arrested for felony delivery of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. In December, Stinnett was arrested on charges of felony delivery of a controlled substance after being stopped on Route F for a traffic violation. The county's K9 unit discovered marijuana and other items in the vehicle.
In early November, Stinnett was also arrested for felony drug delivery charges in the Kingdom City area, and later that day, was again arrested by Missouri Highway Patrol troopers and charged with possession of a controlled substance (44 grams of marijuana), unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia (prior drug arrest) and for not wearing a seatbelt. The Fulton Sun reported these incidents on Dec. 28. None of those cases have completed the court process, according to Case.net.
Ford was arrested for felony Delivery of a Controlled Substance. In 2017, Ford was charged with possession of marijuana/synthetic cannabinoid of 10 grams or less and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors, and pleaded guilty, according to Case.net.
All were transported to the Callaway County Jail.
Austin was incarcerated pending a court-set, $9,500 bond. Stinnett posted a court-set $5,000 bond. Ford remains incarcerated pending a court-set $4,500 bond.
The other incident happened at 12:26 p.m. when a deputy was patrolling Route NN. During the patrol, the deputy stopped Antonio Chester, 32, of Holts Summit, for a traffic violation.
During the course of the investigation, the sheriff's office K9 unit responded to assist. The K9 unit alerted on the vehicle. A controlled substance was located in the vehicle and Chester was arrested and taken to the Callaway County Jail, processed for a misdemeanor drug offense, and later released on a summons pending court appearance.
Investigations are ongoing and further charges could be forthcoming.
Case.net records show Chester was charged in Boone County in 2009 for excessive blood alcohol content and he successfully completed probation.
Chism reminds residents they can report drug-related activity to Crimestopper's at 573-592-2474 or at callawaysheriff.org.