Inside Joplin
Inside Joplin features news and commentary about Joplin, Missouri, and the surrounding area, including Webb City, Carl Junction, Carthage, Sarcoxie, Neosho, Granby, Seneca, Diamond, Lamar, Golden City, Liberal, Anderson, and Pineville, with information about Jasper, Newton, Barton, and McDonald counties.
Monday, July 7, 2025
Carthage Fire Department promotes Eli Maples to deputy chief
(From the Carthage Fire Department)The department is pleased to announce the promotion of Eli Maples to Deputy Chief – Fire Marshal. Deputy Chief Maples joined the Carthage Fire Department in 2004 and has served in numerous roles including Firefighter, Engineer, Lieutenant, Captain, Training Officer, and Fire Marshal.
With over 20 years of fire service experience, Maples brings a strong focus on public safety, fire prevention, education, and community risk reduction. His promotion to Deputy Chief recognizes both his technical expertise and his leadership within the fire department and community.
Newton County Sheriff's Office Weekend Arrests
07/03/2025 25001269 0328
DAVID M CRITES III
503 N Olive
PITTSBURG, KS 66762
4799 W DOWNSTREAM BLVD/US
166 HWY
144.00
WM 36
VERNON CO- EXCEED SPD LMT 11 15
JASPER CO- SPEED 20 TO 25
07/03/2025 0942
TYLER JAMES TUELL
303 Mistflower Lane
CARL JUNCTION, MO 64834
405 E. 5TH 2,000.00
WM 29
NON-SUPPORT
07/03/2025 1446
TIFFANY JADE WATKINS
Unknown Address
WYANDOTTE, OK 00000
300 E 7TH 500.00
WF 36
FTA- DWI
07/03/2025 25001287 1914
ROGER CLAIR SCHMELZER
Jr
12875 Iris Rd
NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64850
13305- 18 IRIS RD 0.00
WM 58
TRESPASS - 1ST DEGREE - L/E OR RELATIVE
ASSAULT- 4TH DEGREE - PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION (1), (5)
07/03/2025 2141
KABEN ALLEN SCHMELZER
13305 Iris Rd
NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64850-
19 IRIS ROAD 0.00
WM 39
DOMESTIC ASSAULT 4TH DEGREE
RESISTING OR INTERFERING WITH ARREST/DETENTION/STOP
07/04/2025 0103
TYRA ELIZABETH COLLINS
13305 Iris Rd
NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64850
13305 IRIS RD 0.00
WF 35
OPERATED MOTOR VEHICLE IN A CARELESS AND IMPRUDENT MANNER
07/04/2025 0127 13305 IRIS RD 0.00
LATOSHA MARIE RALSTON
22601 Rocky Ln
GRANBY, MO 64844
WF 36
POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
07/04/2025 25001285 0220
DEANDRE ERIC CALENDER
1704 Susan Pl
NEOSHO, MO 64850
11685 E HIGHWAY 86/I 49 RAMP 2,000.00
BM 28
POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
DELIVERY OR POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE AT COUNTY/P
07/04/2025 1103
DAKOTA JAMES WILLIAMS
321 Baxter St
NEOSHO, MO 64850
321 BAXTER ST 2,500.00
WM 32
RESISTING ARREST/DETENTION/STOP BY FLEEING - CREATING A SUBS
DWI
07/05/2025 25001291 1152
BRANDON LEE MADISON
5507 Highway Dd
NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64865
5592 HIGHWAY DD 0.00
WM 40
DOMESTIC ASSAULT - 3RD DEGREE
RESISTING ARREST/DETENTION/STOP BY FLEEING - CREATING A SUBS
IN-COUNTY WARRANT
07/05/2025 25001291 1152
BRANDON LEE MADISON
5507 Highway Dd
NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64865
5592 HIGHWAY DD 0.00
WM 40
DOMESTIC ASSAULT - 3RD DEGREE
RESISTING ARREST/DETENTION/STOP BY FLEEING - CREATING A SUBS
POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
DRIVING WHILE REVOKED/SUSPENDED - 1ST OFFENSE
07/05/2025 2105
JEREMY MCCLOY SCOTT
5946 Stone Hill Loop
CARTHAGE, MO 64836
208 W COLER ST 5,000.00
WM 45
PROPERTY DAMAGE 1ST DEGREE
PROPERTY DAMAGE 1ST DEGREE
07/05/2025 1940
MICHAEL A FOLTA
3810 W Galveston Pl
BROKEN ARROW, OK 74012
7054 I 44 WB/S MAIN ST 0.00
WM 55
UNLAWFUL USE OF WEAPON - SUBSECTION 10 - CARRIES LOADED WEAP
07/06/2025 0030
ASHTON A HUNT
521 Grancview Dr.
JOPLIN 64804
7000 59 HIGHWAY 100.00
WM 27
GPD NUISANCE VIOLATION
GPD NUISANCE VIOLATION
07/06/2025 25001300 1645
HOPE MARIE MAYNARD
2125 S Annie Baxter Ave
JOPLIN, MO 64804
4162 GREENWOOD DR 0.00
WF 32
WEBSTER CO DANGEROUS DRUGS
SPD DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED / REVOKED 390.010
07/06/2025 1804
AARON RAY SNIDER
624 Summit St
NEOSHO, MO 64850
208 W COLER ST 0.00
WM 38
DWI
07/06/2025 1038
CHAS TREVOR EMORY
6002 Bison Rd
NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64804
6002 BISON RD 0.00
WM 50
UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
DOMESTIC ASSAULT 4TH DEGREE
POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
Highway Patrol Arrests July 6-7
Jacqueline N. Atkinson, 46, Houston, Arkansas, driving while intoxicated, failed to drive on right half of roadway
Alejandro M. Aleman, 36, Springdale, Arkansas, driving while intoxicated, speeding, failed to drive on right half of roadway, no valid license, no insurance
Zachery T. Deacon, 29, Republic, driving while intoxicated
Brittany N. Damron, 32, Strafford, driving while intoxicated, failed to drive on right half of roadway causing accident, driving while suspended, failed to maintain financial responsibility, failed to display valid plates
Logan J. Livingston, 20, Carthage, speeding, careless and imprudent driving
Isaiah A. Boykin, 25, Chanute, Kansas, Jasper County felony probation violation warrant- original charge larceny, speeding, no license
Felicia M. King, 30, Rogers, Arkansas, felony possession of a controlled substance- methamphetamine, resisting arrest, trespassing, failed to display valid plates, no insurance, failed to affix rear plate
Wyatt E. Keever, 22, Billings, driving while intoxicated, failed to drive on right half of roadway, no license plate light
Missouri State Highway Patrol reports eight fatalities over holiday weekend
(From Missouri State Highway Patrol)The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the following preliminary 2025 July Fourth holiday statistics for the counting period of 6 p.m. Thursday, July 3, 2025, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 6, 2025:
Traffic Statistics
Crashes -- 246
Injuries -- 115
Fatalities -- 8
DWI -- 114
Boating Statistics
Crashes -- 9
Injuries -- 4
Fatalities -- 0
Drowning -- 0
BWI -- 13
[During the 2024 counting period, 14 people were killed and 560 were injured in Missouri over the holiday in 1,366 traffic crashes. Last year during the counting period, troopers arrested 149 people for driving while intoxicated. In 2024, there were 10 boating crashes, which included seven injuries and no fatalities. No one drowned during last year's July Fourth holiday. Troopers made 12 boating while intoxicated arrests over last year’s July Fourth holiday weekend.]
2025 July Fourth Holiday Boating Statistics
Troopers worked nine boating crashes, which included four injuries and zero fatalities. Troopers made 13 boating while intoxicated arrests. No one drowned during the counting period.
2025 July Fourth Holiday Traffic Statistics
Troopers worked 246 traffic crashes, which included 115 injuries and eight fatalities. Troopers also made 114 DWI arrests.
Fatality Traffic Crashes
One traffic fatality occurred in the Troop D, Springfield area, Troop H, St. Joseph area and Troop I, Rolla area. Two fatalities occurred in the Troop B, Macon area. Three fatalities occurred in the Troop C, Weldon Spring area.
No traffic fatalities were reported on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
One person died Friday, July 4, 2025. A 62-year-old man from Bonne Terre, MO, died after being ejected from the motorcycle he was driving. The crash occurred after the man had passed a vehicle as they were entering a curve. The motorcycle was traveling too fast for the conditions and the rider failed to negotiate a curve. The motorcycle traveled off the right side of the road and the driver was ejected. The man was pronounced dead at the scene by Dr. Ruggeri of Mercy Hospital. He was not wearing a helmet. The crash occurred on westbound Missouri Route Y, west of Snowdell Road, in St. Francois County. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Office.
Seven people died on Saturday, July 5, 2025. Two people died when the vehicle they were driving traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck and tree, and began to burn. The driver and passenger were pronounced at the scene by Putnam County Coroner Fleshman. The crash occurred on eastbound Highway 136, 5 miles east of Lucerne, in Putnam County. This crash is still under investigation.
A 53-year-old man from St. Louis, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the right side of the road and struck a street sign. The vehicle returned to the road and traveled off the left side of the road. The right side of the vehicle struck the ground; the vehicle overturned and struck a utility pole. The vehicle came to rest off the left side of the road. The man was pronounced dead at the scene by Christian Hospital EMS. The man was not wearing a seatbelt. The crash occurred on northbound Natural Bridge Road, at Brown Road, in St. Louis County.
A 68-year-old man died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the roadway and overturned. The man was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead by Dr. Keith Butvilas at Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, MO. The crash occurred on East 430th Road one-half mile west of Bolivar.
A 32-year-old man died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Coroner G. Armstrong. The man was wearing a seatbelt. The crash occurred on Cedar Falls Road, at Flat River Bridge, in St. Francois County. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Office.
A 27-year-old female died when the northbound vehicle she was riding in began to hydroplane. The vehicle began to rotate and crossed the center of the road. The rear of the vehicle was struck by a southbound vehicle. The female was pronounced dead by Dr. Riggings at Mercy Hospital in Lebanon, MO. The female was not wearing a seatbelt. The male driver of the northbound vehicle sustained serious injuries in the crash; he was wearing a seatbelt.
A 71-year-old female died when she walked into the path of an eastbound vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Harrison County Coroner Andre Remmer. The crash occurred on eastbound U.S. 136, west of I-35, in Bethany, MO. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office and the Bethany Police Department.
No traffic fatalities were reported on Sunday, July 6, 2025.
NOTE: The fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur, if other departments report fatalities after this news release was sent out, or if a fatality is determined to be caused by a medical condition rather than a traffic/boating/drowning incident.
Traffic Statistics
Crashes -- 246
Injuries -- 115
Fatalities -- 8
DWI -- 114
Boating Statistics
Crashes -- 9
Injuries -- 4
Fatalities -- 0
Drowning -- 0
BWI -- 13
[During the 2024 counting period, 14 people were killed and 560 were injured in Missouri over the holiday in 1,366 traffic crashes. Last year during the counting period, troopers arrested 149 people for driving while intoxicated. In 2024, there were 10 boating crashes, which included seven injuries and no fatalities. No one drowned during last year's July Fourth holiday. Troopers made 12 boating while intoxicated arrests over last year’s July Fourth holiday weekend.]
2025 July Fourth Holiday Boating Statistics
Troopers worked nine boating crashes, which included four injuries and zero fatalities. Troopers made 13 boating while intoxicated arrests. No one drowned during the counting period.
2025 July Fourth Holiday Traffic Statistics
Troopers worked 246 traffic crashes, which included 115 injuries and eight fatalities. Troopers also made 114 DWI arrests.
Fatality Traffic Crashes
One traffic fatality occurred in the Troop D, Springfield area, Troop H, St. Joseph area and Troop I, Rolla area. Two fatalities occurred in the Troop B, Macon area. Three fatalities occurred in the Troop C, Weldon Spring area.
No traffic fatalities were reported on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
One person died Friday, July 4, 2025. A 62-year-old man from Bonne Terre, MO, died after being ejected from the motorcycle he was driving. The crash occurred after the man had passed a vehicle as they were entering a curve. The motorcycle was traveling too fast for the conditions and the rider failed to negotiate a curve. The motorcycle traveled off the right side of the road and the driver was ejected. The man was pronounced dead at the scene by Dr. Ruggeri of Mercy Hospital. He was not wearing a helmet. The crash occurred on westbound Missouri Route Y, west of Snowdell Road, in St. Francois County. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Office.
Seven people died on Saturday, July 5, 2025. Two people died when the vehicle they were driving traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck and tree, and began to burn. The driver and passenger were pronounced at the scene by Putnam County Coroner Fleshman. The crash occurred on eastbound Highway 136, 5 miles east of Lucerne, in Putnam County. This crash is still under investigation.
A 53-year-old man from St. Louis, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the right side of the road and struck a street sign. The vehicle returned to the road and traveled off the left side of the road. The right side of the vehicle struck the ground; the vehicle overturned and struck a utility pole. The vehicle came to rest off the left side of the road. The man was pronounced dead at the scene by Christian Hospital EMS. The man was not wearing a seatbelt. The crash occurred on northbound Natural Bridge Road, at Brown Road, in St. Louis County.
A 68-year-old man died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the roadway and overturned. The man was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead by Dr. Keith Butvilas at Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, MO. The crash occurred on East 430th Road one-half mile west of Bolivar.
A 32-year-old man died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Coroner G. Armstrong. The man was wearing a seatbelt. The crash occurred on Cedar Falls Road, at Flat River Bridge, in St. Francois County. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Office.
A 27-year-old female died when the northbound vehicle she was riding in began to hydroplane. The vehicle began to rotate and crossed the center of the road. The rear of the vehicle was struck by a southbound vehicle. The female was pronounced dead by Dr. Riggings at Mercy Hospital in Lebanon, MO. The female was not wearing a seatbelt. The male driver of the northbound vehicle sustained serious injuries in the crash; he was wearing a seatbelt.
A female occupant of the northbound vehicle sustained serious injuries in the crash; she was wearing not wearing a seatbelt. A male occupant of the northbound vehicle sustained minor injuries; he was wearing a seatbelt. The female driver of the southbound vehicle sustained minor injuries in the crash; she was wearing a seatbelt. A juvenile male and an adult female passenger in the southbound vehicle sustained minor injuries; they were wearing seatbelts. A juvenile female, an adult female, and an adult male passenger sustained serious injuries in the crash. The adult male and juvenile female were wearing seatbelts; the adult female was not wearing a seatbelt. The crash occurred on Highway 5, at Lake Shore Drive, in Laclede County. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Laclede County Sheriff’s Office.
A 71-year-old female died when she walked into the path of an eastbound vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Harrison County Coroner Andre Remmer. The crash occurred on eastbound U.S. 136, west of I-35, in Bethany, MO. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office and the Bethany Police Department.
No traffic fatalities were reported on Sunday, July 6, 2025.
NOTE: The fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur, if other departments report fatalities after this news release was sent out, or if a fatality is determined to be caused by a medical condition rather than a traffic/boating/drowning incident.
Joplin Police taking applications for Citizens Academy
(From the Joplin Police Department)The Joplin Police Department is proud to announce the upcoming session of the Citizens Police Academy. The Citizens Police Academy is an exciting 14 week program hosted by the police department. This program is offered to people in our area who want to learn more about the Joplin Police Department.
Offered FREE of charge, this hands-on, interactive, behind-the-scenes program is taught by experienced police officers, who share their unique perspective on law enforcement. The classes will be held every Thursday evening starting July 31st from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The CPA will conclude on October 30th with a closing ceremony and dinner. The classes will be held at various locations throughout the City. The class size will be limited to approximately 25 participants.
Applicants must be 21 years or older and pass a background check. Topics covered will include: crime scene investigations, narcotics investigations, vehicle stops, SWAT operations and equipment, use of force concepts, building clearing, DWI enforcement, an introduction to the K9 unit and much more.
An application can be submitted or printed from JPD’s website, www.joplinpolice.org, under the Events tab. An application can also be obtained at the front desk of the Joplin Police Department at 303 E. 3rd Street, in Joplin. Questions can be directed to Officer Lacey Baxter at lbaxter@joplinmo.org or at (417) 623-3131, ext 1632.
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