New Joplin police officer trained by sergeant who had been resource officer at her school

(From the Joplin Police Department)

How cool is it this? Pictured first is Joplin School Resource Officer Andy Blair with one of his students, Maggie Smith, in 2012. 

Fast forward 11 years, and the second picture is Sergeant Andy Blair with Police Officer Maggie Smith, who was recognized yesterday during our badge pinning ceremony. 

Sergeant Blair oversees our Training Division and for Police Officer Maggie Smith, it was the official culmination of a year long training process to become a Joplin Police Officer.

 
Our officers strive each and every day to have positive impacts in the community. It is great to be able to reflect on those moments, such as this, and see the results of those efforts and endeavors. Congratulations Officer Smith and fantastic work Sergeant Blair!

Joplin Police Department Weekly Activity Report

 

Southwest City woman injured in collision on I-49

A Southwest City woman was injured in a two-vehicle accident 1:18 p.m. today on I-49 six miles south of Joplin.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2011 Buick Lucerne driven by Caroline M. Wales, 80, Southwest City, stopped for a large item in the roadway and was struck from behind by a 2013 Nissan Frontier driven by Rhonda K. Philliber, 59, Neosho.

Wales was treated for minor injuries at Mercy Joplin.

 

Joplin man arrested following pursuit in car stolen from Newton County

(From the Joplin Police Department)

On Saturday, November 25th, 2023, at 7:24 a.m. an officer with the Joplin Police Department attempted to make a traffic stop on a white Ford F-350 for several traffic violations and suspicion that the driver was intoxicated. 

The vehicle failed to stop for officers and a vehicle pursuit ensued. The pursuit went west and entered Cherokee County, Kansas where the suspect vehicle went off-road and crashed through several fences before eventually coming to a stop. 

The driver was arrested by Kansas Law Enforcement Officers without further incident. It was determined the truck the suspect was operating was stolen out of Newton County, Missouri. 

The driver was identified as Jared S. Prier, age 37 of Joplin. 

Charges were submitted to the Jasper County Prosecutor's Office for Tampering with a Motor Vehicle in the 1st Degree, Driving with a Suspended Driver’s License, and Resisting Arrest. Prier may face additional charges with Kansas authorities.

Rural Baxter Springs man sentenced to nine years on meth distribution charge

(From the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office)

Timothy Leon Sargent, 60, of rural Baxter Springs was sentenced in Cherokee County District Court earlier this week to 111 months incarceration after pleading guilty to Possessing Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute.

The prison sentence stems from a May, 2022 traffic stop conducted by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, where a search of the vehicle driven by Sargent resulted in the discovery and seizure of a considerable amount of methamphetamine.

Sargent was prosecuted by the Cherokee County Attorney's Office.

Joplin Police Department Arrests November 27-28

11/27/2023 1121 

RICHARD RYAN CLEMMONS 

 4414 S Oronogo Ave, BLK WEBB CITY, MO 64870 

WM 32 3015 S CONNECTICUT 500.00 

OBSTRUCTION / RESISTING 

TRESPASS UPON ANOTHER PROPERTY 

11/27/2023 1158 

KINZIE NYCHOLE OGLE 

23008637 816 S Picher Ave, 5 JOPLIN, MO 64801 

WF 19 816- 5 S PICHER AVE 0.00 

DOMESTIC ASSAULT--CITY 

11/27/2023 1405 

RACHELLE KAYE BRILEY 

23008645 2209 S Jackson Ave, 1/2 JOPLIN, MO 64804 

WF 46 4TH/SERGEANT 250.00 

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA 

11/27/2023 1543 

NATHANIEL GEORGE EDWARD THOMPSON 

 304 S Forest Ave JOPLIN, MO 64801 

BM 54 804 S PENN 500.00 

FAIL TO APPEAR 

11/27/2023 1620 

SARITA JOANETTE WOFFORD 

 531 S Kentucky JOPLIN, MO 64801 

BF 42 1822 W 7TH 500.00 

OBSTRUCTION / RESISTING 

11/27/2023 1545 

SKYE LORINDA PERKINS 

 1611 S Sergeant Ave JOPLIN, MO 64804 

WF 41 303 E 3RD 500.00 

FAIL TO APPEAR 

11/27/2023 1720 

KEVIN PADGETT 

 531 S Kentucky Ave JOPLIN, MO 64801 

WM 50 915 W JUNGE BLVD 0.00 

DOMESTIC ASSAULT--CITY 

11/27/2023 1700 

RODY OWEN BLACK 

 1427 S Michigan JOPLIN, MO 64804 

WM 22 34TH/WARNER DRIVE 500.00 

TRESPASS UPON ANOTHER PROPERTY 

11/27/2023 1948 

BRENT JAY MURRAY 

 1104 W Broadway Apt 8 WEBB CITY, MO 64870 

WM 60 32ND / RANGELINE RD 500.00 

FAIL TO APPEAR 

FAIL TO APPEAR 

NO PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 

STATE LICENSE PLATES REQUIRED 

FAIL TO APPEAR 

11/27/2023 2030 

JARED KANE BECKETT 

 928 S Picher Ave, 1 JOPLIN, MO 64801 

WM 21 W 11TH ST/ S CONNOR 250.00 

HAND SIGNALS 

11/27/2023 2030 

MICHAEL DEAN DOWNEY 

 429 N Joplin Ave JOPLIN, MO 64801 

WM 44 W 4TH ST / S ADELE AVE 0.00 

BENCH WARRANT 

11/27/2023 2145 

JOSEPH MICHAEL FLYNN 

 201 S Sergeant Ave JOPLIN, MO 64801 

WM 44 W 6TH ST / A GRAY AVE 500.00 

DWS/DWR OR CANCELLED 

11/27/2023 2220 

CHEVELLE CHRISTINE FEELY 

 301 Hickory Pl CARL JUNCTION, MO 64834 

WF 31 25TH / PENNSYLVANIA 500.00 

DRIVING UNDER INFLUENCE OF DRUGS 

NO PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 

DEFECTIVE LIGHTING 

11/27/2023 2330 

PAUL EDWARD PHILLIPS 

 531 S Kentucky Ave JOPLIN, MO 64801 

WM 46 846 MURPHY BLVD 0.00 

PARK AFTER HOURS 

11/28/2023 0605 

MELISSA RENAE DENNY 

 1502 S Michigan Ave, 4-9 JOPLIN, MO 64804 

WF 42 W JUNGE AVE/S JOPLIN AVE 250.00 

NO PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 

Highway Patrol Arrests November 27-28

Michael C. Hodson, 50, Springfield, failure to register as a sex offender (two counts)

John R. Estes, 29, Branson, felony driving while intoxicated, felony resisting arrest

Tristan K. Fuehrer, 36, Springfield, Marshfield Police Department felony warrants for failure to appear on forgery, probation violation/dangerous drugs and probation violation/burglary, Webster County misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear on no driver's license, Seymour Police Department misdemeanor warrants for no valid license, no insurance and failure to register motor vehicle, failed to display valid plates, no valid license, no insurance

Daniel J. Twaddle, 36, Fordland, Camden County misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear on assault