Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Arrest of alleged meth dealers causes lockdown at Ozark Christian Academy in Neosho


(Correction: When reading the court file on this case Monday, I noted that the incident took place April 4. What I failed to notice was that it was April 4, 2016 and the Newton County Prosecuting Attorney filed the charges earlier this month. I apologize for the error.)

The arrest of two Neosho residents on meth trafficking charges April 4, 2016 that led to a lockdown at the Ozark Christian Academy had led to the filing of charges after three years.

The Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's office has filed charges of distributing a controlled substance near a school against Kenneth Francis, 30, and Brooke Francis, 31, after the Newton County Sheriff's Office and the Neosho Police Department executed a search warrant based on suspicion that drug dealing was occurring at a home at 904 Randolph.

The home is located directly across from Ozark Christian Academy.

While they were waiting for the search warrant, officers saw a man ride a motorcycle up tot he residence, go inside, then leave. A deputy saw the man was looking back at him and took "an unusually wide turn." The deputy tried to make a traffic stop, but the man fled at a high rate of speed. The motorcycle was able to elude the deputy, but dropped a saddle bag that contained a semi-automatic pistol with a silencer and a black powder revolver pistol, according to the probable cause statement.








It also had a bag that contained 18 grams of methamphetamine.

A few moments later, a black Pontiac left 904 Randolph. Police stopped the vehicle, which was being driven by Kenneth Francis with Brooke Francis sitting in the passenger seat. Brooke Francis had $1,060 in cash.

At the time the Francises were stopped, Ozark Christian Academy had already been put on lockdown, as a precautionary measure, according to the statement. The police and sheriff's office executed the search warrant. A digital scale with meth residue on it was found inside a bag of dog food five rolls of cash, each containing $625.

More meth and drug paraphernalia were found during the search of Kenneth Francis' automobile.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was thinking a wall just north of Highway 60 would git-r-dun...but that won't fix what's wrong in Neosho!

Thoughts and prayers just in case that would hep!

Anonymous said...

I can't think of a better location for a Drug House.

Unknown said...

This happened several years ago unless this exact same thing happened again at the same residence with the same people.

Randy said...

When I read the court file Monday, I saw the April 4 and did not check the year. You are absolutely right. The incident occurred April 4, 2016. The post has been changed to correct my error. Thanks for letting me know. I will make sure to check the year as well as the date from now on.

Anonymous said...

So 3 years after the incident charges are now filed? Where were these fine upstanding citizens in the meantime?