Sedalia Police and Pettis County Sheriff’s Office Crime Reports for April 17, 2017

A 36-year-old Sedalia man was arrested on multiple charges following a traffic stop around 7:45 p.m. on April 16. Police say a white Lincoln was stopped for having no license plates, and the driver was discovered to be in possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a prohibited style of weapon. Justin Lee Denny was arrested and taken to the Pettis County Jail, where he was placed on a  24-hour hold.

Pettis County deputies arrested  Eric W. Barnes of Knob Noster in the area of Schenk Road and Sullivan Road on charges of possession of a controlled substance (meth) and tampering with evidence on April 16.

On April 16, Pettis County deputies arrested Jamie Wendel of Sedalia on outstanding Pettis County warrants and possession of a controlled substance (meth). Bond was set at $60,000.

A 32-year-old woman was arrested on April 15 by Sedalia Police for stealing a vehicle. Police responded to the 400 block of W. Main St. where the vehicle was reported stolen. It was tracked to the 400 block of N. Quincy Avenue where it was recovered, and the suspect, Melanie Lynn Swenson, was arrested and placed on a 24-hour hold, pending charges for vehicle theft.

Sedalia officers responded to the 1500 block of South Osage Avenue around 4:30 a.m. on April 15. Two suspects reported being assaulted, and a vehicle was being damaged. Police say that one suspect was seen throwing an object at the vehicle as they arrived, and that suspect attempted to flee. Officers located 20-year-old Santiago Pascual Vasquez, who was arrested and taken to the Pettis County Jail. The victims told police they did not wish to pursue assault charges, but did want to pursue charges for property damage.

Police were dispatched to Dollar General on N. Ohio around 7:30 p.m. on April 15 and took a report of a woman that had taken items from the store. Police found an address for the suspect and made contact with 34-year-old Rhonda Marie Swofford. Police say the stolen items were recovered and returned to the store. Swofford was arrested and later released on a summons for stealing.

Two Sedalia teens were arrested on April 14 after deputies with the Pettis County Sheriff's Office responded to a call of shots fired around noon in the 2900 block of S. Washington. Deputies reportedly discovered a vehicle that had damage from multiple bullet holes. Following an investigation, 18-year-old Ezra C. Cowen and 17-year-old Keegan R. Webner, both of Sedalia, were arrested and taken to the Pettis County Jail.

Police arrested a 40-year-old man who is accused of assaulting another person with a needle. According to Sedalia Police, officers were dispatched to the area of E. Johnson Street and N. Lamine Avenue on April 14 and observed the suspect leaving the area. After a short pursuit, Timothy Lee Davis was arrested. Police say Davis was in possession of a methamphetamine syringe. He was arrested on several charges, including drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, assault, and resisting arrest.

Sedalia Police say the driver of a Ford SUV that had been stopped on April 14 for failing to using a turn signal was in possession of prescription medications, methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. 46-year-old April Louise Smasal of Sedalia was arrested on multiple charges and taken to the Pettis County Jail.

On April 14, Sedalia Police were called to the Sedalia Housing Authority's laundry facility at 400 Robinson Court to investigate a property damage complaint. Police were told that someone had kicked in the door to a locked bathroom. The door was damaged. Feces, toilet paper, paper towels, work gloves and a plastic bottle were clogging the toilet. The walls of the bathroom were also vandalized with pencil drawings. Police say they have no suspects at this time.

Police were dispatched just after midnight on April 14 to the 200 block of South Missouri after a caller told dispatch he had killed his son and the mother of his child. Police say officers made contact with the caller, who was intoxicated and argumentative, and had not harmed anyone. 20-year-old Miguel Matacua-Aguilar was taken into custody for safekeeping, and for being a minor in possession of alcohol.

Sedalia Police were dispatched to Ag Power on South Limit on April 13 for a reported theft. Two John Deere zero turn mowers were reported stolen from the business. While on the scene, police were told by an associate of another business in the area that he had located two zero turn mowers in the 2400 block of South Limit. Both mowers were located behind a business at that address, and were returned to Ag Power.

On April 13, Sedalia Police were called to Big Lots just after 7 p.m. to take a shoplifting complaint. A suspect had reportedly left the store with a Dirt Devil Hand Vac in her purse. While speaking with store employees, the suspect called the store and said that she had the stolen item and wanted to bring it back to the store. 46-year-old Tammy M. Gamblain brought the item back to the store and was issued a Municipal Court Summons for stealing.

Pettis County deputies took a report of counterfeit money from a business in the 1500 block of N. Ohio. The Pettis County Sheriff's Office says the business told deputies that a customer used counterfeit currency to pay for items from the store on April 13. No arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing.

Police say a loaded firearm and methamphetamine were found on a suspect that was being arrested at a business on W. 10th Street. Police were called to a disturbance on April 12 and found 27-year-old Zachariah C. Sparks, who was wanted on a failure to appear warrant from Pettis County. Police say as Sparks was being arrested, they found the weapon and drugs on him. Charges of possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon are being sought.