Joplin man caught in cemetery with pants down and meth in his vehicle

The Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed a felony methamphetamine possession charge Monday against a Joplin man after a Newton County deputy found him with his pants down in Hornet Cemetery and then found methamphetamine in his vehicle.

According to the probable cause statement, the deputy was answering a call concerning an abandoned vehicle in the cemetery Monday when he came upon John Matthew Chew (DOB 1985).

From the statement:

Upon my arrival, I observed a gray Nissan Pathfinder parked in the cemetery. As I pulled behind it a male subject immediately exited the vehicle naked with his pants around his knees. He then pulled his pants up and waited for me to make contact with him.

According to the probable cause statement, the deputy noticed Chew was "sweating profusely and appeared very nervous" and was breathing heavily.

A check showed Chew had an outstanding Jasper County warrant. As the deputy was waiting to determine if the warrant was still active he asked Chew if he had any illegal contraband in his vehicle. He said he didn't and did not consent to a search.

Looking through the driver's side window, the deputy saw in plain view "one syringe with a brown liquid inside," near the driver's seat. Chew told the deputy the syringe belonged to a woman who had been in the car and that he did not do any drugs, except marijuana.

After the deputy confirmed the warrant was active, he conducted a probable cause search and in addition to the syringe, discovered a clear plastic bag filled with methamphetamine, according to the probable cause statement, drug paraphernalia and marijuana.

Chew's initial appearance is scheduled for 10 a.m. January 9.