Monday, July 7, 2025

Newton County Sheriff's Office Weekly Report

 

























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 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.

Agenda posted for Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau Board meeting

 





















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.