Joplin Police Department names Bobby Brown Officer of the Month

(From the Joplin Police Department)

Officer of the Month
August 2018 

The following are just a few highlights of Officer Bobby Brown’s outstanding performance during the month of August that support this award.

On August 11, 2018 Officer Brown was contacted by Det. Leeper who advised he witnessed Aaron Sutten (who had felony warrants) knock on a hotel room window at the Fairfield Inn. 

A female, Shawna Smith, exited and met Sutten at her car. Officer Brown contacted them and his K9 Pax alerted on the vehicles. 

During a subsequent search, Officer Brown found 30.5 grams of Meth in Smith's purse and 104.1 grams of Meth in Sutten's backpack. He also found 4.1 grams of black tar heroin in the backpack. 

Officer Brown sought and obtained a search warrant for the hotel room where Shawna Smith was staying. After it was obtained and served on the hotel room, one female occupant, Kiley McDonald, was arrested (felony warrant). 

On the bed where she was laying was another bag of Meth that weighed 151.9 grams. In total Officer Brown seized 286.5 grams of Methamphetamine during this investigation. Shawna Smith, Aaron Sutten and Kiley McDonald were charged with Trafficking Drugs in the 1st Degree.

On August 13th, 2018 Officer Brown saw a silver Infinity parked at the Economy Inn and knew it matched the description of one that was reported stolen locally. After confirming the vehicle was in fact stolen, Officer Brown reviewed surveillance video at the motel and tracked the suspect back to a hotel room. He made contact with the occupants and arrested Matthew McCormick for Tampering 1st. Officer Brown located the key to the stolen car in McCormick’s pocket and was able to obtain an incriminating statement from him.

On August 14th, 2018 Officer Swann observed a silver Chevy Trailblazer eastbound from 7th and Maiden Lane and believed Cody Lindsey was inside. 

Lindsey was wanted out of Arkansas for Aggravated Assault/Vehicle Theft. He also had a Probation Violation warrant for Burglary. 

Officer Brown saw the vehicle at 7th & Wall and confirmed Cody Lindsey was inside. Officer Brown attempted to stop the vehicle and it fled and a pursuit ensued throughout the northwest part of town. The vehicle pursuit ended behind 2220 W. Perkins and two suspects fled on foot and two suspect remained in the car. Cody Lindsey was apprehended by K9 Pax and Officer Brown. Travis Wyrick was arrested out of this address. The vehicle was confirmed stolen out of Arkansas with probable stolen property inside the car. 

Ross Eiland and Ronald Pack were charged with Tampering 2nd Degree. Travis Wyrick was arrested for Resisting Arrest and Tampering 1st. Cody Lindsey was arrested for Resisting Arrest, Tampering 2nd and Assaulting a Police Animal. He also had five felony warrants for his arrest. Arkansas authorities confirmed they were seeking warrants for numerous charges, including aggravated assault, kidnapping, and vehicle theft.

On August 21st, 2018 Officer Brown was clearing a call for service and spotted a vehicle he saw on Facebook was reported stolen during a burglary in Bentonville, AR. 

The vehicle pulled into a rear alley/driveway at 1808 W. 20th and the male driver and female passenger bailed on foot as officers approached. The female was apprehended at the rear of this addresses. A perimeter was set and while checking the area, K9 Pax located and apprehended the suspect, Billy Coleman, hiding inside a trash can at the house next door. 

Coleman was treated by EMS on scene for the dog bite and taken to Freeman hospital for further treatment. The vehicle was towed from the scene by Coats Towing after being confirmed as stolen out of Bentonville.

Congratulations to Officer Brown and K9 Pax who are great assets to the Joplin Police Department and they are both very deserving of this award.