Oronogo man charged with fentanyl trafficking

The preliminary hearing and detention hearing for an Oronogo charged with fentanyl trafficking is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday in U. S. District Court in Springfield.

The initial appearance for Cody Dalton Romines, 30, was held today.

Romines was arrested after a high-speed chase on I-44 Monday, in which he first was clocked driving well over the speed limit, then did not immediately stop when a Highway Patrol trooper attempted to pull it over and threw fentanyl out the window, according to the probable cause affidavit.

From the affidavit:

On or about May 17, 2022, MSHP Corporal Zack Bryan was traveling westbound on Interstate 44. Corporal Bryan observed a black in color Kia Optima bearing Missouri license plates EJ8T6R also traveling westbound on Interstate 44. 

Corporal Bryan paced the vehicle and determined that it was traveling in excess of 80 miles per hour, exceeding the posted speed limit of 70 miles per hour. Corporal Bryan paced the vehicle consistently traveling between 80 and 90 miles per hour for several miles while traveling westbound on Interstate 44. The entire time Corporal Bryan was pacing the vehicle, the posted speed limit was 70 miles per hour. 

MSHP Corporal Tim Barrett and MSHP Sergeant Jamie Musche activated their patrol vehicles' emergency lights and siren and attempted to stop the vehicle near the 32 mile-marker of Interstate 44, a location in Jasper County, within the Western District of Missouri. 

The vehicle did not immediately stop and continued westbound on Interstate 44. Between the 31.4 and 31.2 mile-markers on Interstate 44, Sergeant Musche observed an object fly out the passenger window of the vehicle. The vehicle finally stopped near the 30.6 mile-marker ofInterstate 44, a location in Jasper County, within the Western District of Missouri. 

The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was identified as ROMINES. 

Law enforcement searched the ditch and shoulder area between the 31.4 and 31.2 mile-markers and located a black bag approximately 10 to 15 feet off the shoulder of the roadway. The bag was searched, and a bundle, tied up in material, was located. 

Inside the material was a Ziploc bag containing a white, hard, rock-like substance. The combined weight of the white substance and packaging was approximately 172 grams. 

ROMINES was arrested and advised of his Miranda warning. He was then transported to MSHP Troop D Headquarters. At the MSHP Troop D Headquarters, Sergeant Musche and TFO Comer interviewed ROMINES. ROMINES was reminded of his Miranda warning and agreed to speak with law enforcement. 

During his interview, ROMINES admitted to throwing the bag out of the vehicle window and identified the substance in the bag as fentanyl. ROMINES further admitted to distributing fentanyl in the Joplin, Missouri, area for the last several years and indicated that the fentanyl he threw out the window on Interstate 44 was being transported to the Joplin, Missouri, area for distribution.

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