Springfield police officer under investigation for March traffic accident that endangered man's life

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On March 22, at 8:53 p.m., officers with the Springfield Police Department responded to a vehicle crash at Battlefield Road and Kansas Expressway.

 
Isaiah Houseknecht, 27, from Springfield was on duty as a Springfield Police Officer and driving a Ford Police Interceptor SUV eastbound on Battlefield with his emergency lights and siren activated. 

Tammie Trolinger, 42, from Springfield was driving a red Cadillac DeVille southbound on Kansas Expressway near Battlefield. The two vehicles collided in the intersection. The collision caused the Police Interceptor SUV to hit two stationary vehicles on northbound Kansas Expressway.

A passenger in the Cadillac DeVille, Anthony Jones, 47, from Springfield was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The investigation revealed the Cadillac DeVille had a green light for southbound Kansas Expressway.

The Police Interceptor was travelling at a high rate of speed and entered the intersection while there was a red light for eastbound Battlefield. Missouri statute 304.022 provides procedure for emergency vehicle drivers.

SPD is conducting an internal investigation regarding Houseknecht’s actions.

Springfield man indicted for timeshare fraud scheme

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Springfield, Mo., business owner has been indicted by a federal grand jury for a timeshare fraud scheme as well as for failing to pay more than $333,000 in federal taxes withheld from his employees’ paychecks.

Brian Scroggs, 52, was charged in a six-count indictment returned on May 14, 2024, by a federal grand jury in Springfield.

Scroggs was the owner of several businesses that focused on various aspects of the timeshare exit industry. These businesses claimed to provide a service that would get prospective clients out of their timeshare contracts.

Scroggs owned Vacation Consulting Services, LLC, and The Transfer Group, LLC, both located in Springfield, from 2014 through February 2019. Scroggs also began operating Real Travel, LLC, on June 5, 2018. Although Real Travel was registered in the state of Arkansas, it conducted business from the Vacation Consulting Services office and utilized the same employees, so by all intents and purposes, was actually Vacation Consulting Services operating under a different business name.

According to the indictment, Scroggs employed sales teams who traveled the country hosting seminars during which Vacation Consulting Services / Real Travel presented to timeshare owners they could get them out of their timeshare contracts for a fee. If they failed to get their clients out of their timeshare contracts within a year, they claimed, they would either buy their clients’ timeshare contracts or refund the fee paid by the clients.

By January 2019, the indictment alleges, Scroggs knew that the timeshare industry was no longer negotiating or working with timeshare exit companies such as Vacation Consulting Services / Real Travel or The Transfer Group to get their timeshare contract holders out of timeshare contracts. Despite knowing that timeshare companies would no longer work with his companies, Scroggs allegedly continued soliciting new clients throughout January 2019 by falsely claiming to be able to get people out of their timeshare contracts.

The federal indictment charges Scroggs with three counts of wire fraud related to three clients who allegedly were defrauded by this scheme. According to the indictment, these clients paid a total of over $32,000 to Scroggs’s companies but were not released from their timeshare agreements and never received a refund.

The indictment also charges Scroggs with three counts of failure to pay over federal employment taxes. Scroggs allegedly failed to pay over to the IRS a total of $333,483 in federal income taxes and FICA taxes that were withheld from his employees’ paychecks for the third and fourth quarters of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the FBI.

Springfield man killed in car-motorcycle collision

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On May 23, at 7:34 a.m., officers with the Springfield Police Department responded to a vehicle crash at Sunshine Street and Grant Avenue.

Matthew Sisak, 52, from Springfield, was driving a Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle eastbound on Sunshine Street approaching Grant Avenue. A Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Larissa Stewart, 38, from Springfield, was turning south onto Grant Avenue. The two vehicles collided, then the Tahoe hit a utility pole.

 

Sisak was pronounced deceased at the scene. Sisak’s family has been notified.

The circumstances of the crash are part of an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is requested to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or the tips hotline at 417-869-TIPS.

This was Springfield’s ninth fatal motor vehicle crash in 2024.

Absconder captured in Marionville

(From the Aurora-Marionville Police Department)

Sunday afternoon, AMPD attempted a traffic stop on Hwy 39 near Dyer. The vehicle failed to stop and engaged our officers in a pursuit.

The pursuit went down several farm roads and eventually entered Marionville. AMPD was eventually able to pin the vehicle and perform a felony arrest inside Marionville city limits.

The driver arrested was Darren Hemphill, currently wanted by the Missouri Department of Corrections as an absconder. After today’s arrest, more criminal charges will be requested. He is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. He is seen here seated in the rear of an AMPD patrol unit.

As always, we appreciate the backup we received from our local partner agencies.

 
Aurora and Marionville are unsafe locations to set up a criminal enterprise or to hide to avoid capture. We’re pretty sure that memo has gone out.

Kimberling City man killed in accident on James River Road

A Kimberling City man was killed in a one-vehicle accident 10:23 p.m. Tuesday on James River Road in Kimberling City.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 1991 Chevrolet Astro minivan driven by Steven L. Shook, 59, Kimberling City, traveled off the roadway and struck a tree.

He was pronounced dead at Cox South Hospital, Springfield, at 12:37 a.m. Wednesday.

The fatality was the 35th this year for Highway Patrol Troop D. 

Mount Vernon woman indicted for conspiracy to purchase hundreds of lottery tickets with stolen credit cards

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Mt. Vernon, Mo., woman was indicted by a federal grand jury today for leading a conspiracy to purchase nearly 2,000 lottery tickets with stolen credit cards.

Amy Young, 31, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo.

Today’s indictment alleges that Young obtained stolen credit cards and led a conspiracy to use those stolen credit cards to purchase lottery tickets from a Phillips 66 Fuel Station in Joplin, Mo., between July 22 and Aug. 18, 2022. Young allegedly enlisted the help of others to contact the Missouri Lottery Commission to obtain cash prizes for any winning lottery tickets that were fraudulently purchased using stolen credit cards. They kept a portion of the money for themselves and turned over the rest of the money to Young.

According to the indictment, Young used stolen credit cards to purchase at least 1,957 Missouri Lottery tickets with a value of $62,082. Additionally, Young and her co-conspirators received $54,248 in cash prizes for the winning tickets purchased using stolen credit card numbers.

In total, between the fraudulent credit card transactions and the prize money fraudulently received, Young and her co-conspirators fraudulently received at least $116,330.

Today’s indictment charges Young with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud (related to the fraudulent purchase of $480 in lottery tickets with a stolen credit card on Aug. 18, 2022).

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the FBI.

Monett Police: Do you know these guys?

 

(From the Monett Police Department)

The Monett Police Department is trying to identify these two individuals who were involved in a burglary in Monett. 

The male subject has what appears to be tattoos on both forearms and his right calf. They appear to be driving a light blue or grey minivan, possibly a Kia Sedona. 

If you have any information on either of these subjects, contact the Monett Police Department at 417-235-4241 or Crimestoppers at 1-888-635-8477. 

Springfield, Willard residents indicted in cocaine conspiracy

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

Three southwest Missouri residents are among five defendants indicted for their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy after federal agents seized 16 kilograms of cocaine while arresting two co-defendants in Texas.

Mario Jose Castillo, 55, of Springfield, Mo.; Christhian Eduardo Cruz-Pineda, 22, a citizen of Honduras residing in Springfield; Johnathan David Emerson, 47, a resident of Willard, Mo.; and Bryan Ramirez-Aguero, 33, a citizen of Honduras, and Erika Martinez Hernandez, 40, a citizen of Mexico, both residing in Grand Prairie, Texas, were charged in a 10-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield.

Today’s superseding indictment replaces an indictment returned on April 10, 2024. Today’s superseding indictment contains the same or similar charges as the original indictment, but increases the amount of cocaine allegedly distributed in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and lengthens the timeframe of the conspiracy to incorporate an additional drug seizure.

Federal agents arrested Ramirez-Aguero and Martinez Hernandez on April 11, 2024. At the time of their arrest for the original indictment, agents seized approximately 16 kilograms of cocaine and $145,123 from their residence. Today’s superseding indictment reflects that drug seizure.

The federal indictment alleges that all five of the defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine from Dec. 12, 2021, to April 11, 2024.

In addition to the drug-trafficking conspiracy, Castillo is charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

Castillo, Emerson and Martinez Hernandez are charged together in one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Castillo and Martinez Hernandez are charged together in one count of unlawfully using a telephone to facilitate the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Castillo and Emerson are charged together in one count of money laundering.

Emerson and Cruz-Pineda are charged together in one count of possessing 500 grams or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute.

Cruz-Pineda is charged with one count of being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

Springfield sex offender sentenced to 15 years for child pornography

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Springfield, Mo., man who is a registered sex offender was sentenced in federal court today for receiving child pornography, which was discovered on his cell phone during an investigation into threats he made to a sheriff’s department employee.

Joshua Emanuel Wood, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Wood to 10 years of supervised release following incarceration.

On Dec. 12, 2023, Wood pleaded guilty to one count of receiving and distributing child pornography.

Wood is required to register as a sex offender due to his 2018 conviction of possessing child pornography. The investigation began when Wood left 41 threatening voice mail messages on May 29 and 30, 2022, for the employee of the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department who was in charge of registering sex offenders. The sex offender registrar reported those threats and law enforcement officers arrested Wood; the state felony charge related to this harassment is still pending.

Wood had a Google Pixel cell phone in his possession when he was arrested. Investigators found child sexual abuse material on the phone, including 107 images of child pornography, including depictions of infants being raped, as well as web searches for child pornography and visits to suspected child pornography websites. 

According to court documents, the forensic analysis of Wood’s cell phone demonstrated that he had been wiping his cell phone frequently, and the child pornography files had been received over a period of just a few days. Because he was regularly wiping his cell phone, it is difficult to know the extent of his involvement with child pornography.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

Intersection of 97 and 37 in Pierce City to be closed

(From MoDOT)

Intersection of Missouri Route 97 and Route 37 closed for intersection improvements in Pierce City Beginning Tuesday, May 28

Where: Intersection of Missouri Route 97 (Elm Street) and Route 37 (Commercial Street) CLOSED for intersection improvements in Pierce City

When: Tuesday, May 28 until Wednesday, June 5

What: Contractor crews to upgrade and replace intersection to conform to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. This is part of a project to upgrade sidewalks along various routes in Christian and Lawrence Counties.

Traffic Impacts

Intersection of Missouri Route 97 (Elm Street) and Route 37 (Commercial Street) CLOSED in Pierce City

Drivers urged to find alternate routes

No signed detours are planned

Check MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map for road closings/traffic impacts

Weather and/or scheduling conflicts could alter the work schedule.

Two Eagle Rock women suffer serious injuries in crash on 86

Three Eagle Rock residents were injured in a one-vehicle accident 2 p.m. today on MO 86 one mile east of Eagle Rock.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2016 Buick Envision driven by Dawna D. Headgepath, 67, Eagle Rock, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a sign and a guy wire for a pole.

Headgepath was airlifted to Cox South Hospital, Springfield, with serious injuries.

Two passengers, Lorrie A. Campbell, 52, and Viola D. Boggs, 69, both of Eagle Rock, were treated for serious and minor injuries, respectively, at Cox South. 

Three Branson men arrested for assault, woman in critical condition

(From the Branson Police Department)

On Sunday, May 5th, around 10:30 pm, Branson Police Officers received a report of a serious assault that had occurred at a camp in the area of Animal Safari Road and Fall Creek.

 
Responding officers found a female with critical injuries and immediately summoned emergency medical assistance from the Branson Fire Department and Taney County Ambulance. The victim, an adult female, was transported to a hospital in Springfield for life saving care. The victim remains in critical condition and it is too early for a long term prognosis.

 
Due to the seriousness of the assault, Branson PD mobilized its Detective Services personnel for the investigation. Teaming with patrol officers, Detectives were able to collect evidence and apprehend three suspects in the assault within hours of the initial call. These individuals were arrested and booked into the Taney County Jail on the following charges, which were filed by the Taney County Prosecutor's Office:

• Anthony G. Ambriz, 32, of Branson:
Assault 1st Degree - Serious Physical Injury or Special Victim
Armed Criminal Action

• Ethan C. Brodie, 31, of Branson:
Assault 1st Degree - Serious Physical Injury or Special Victim
Armed Criminal Action

• Conner L. Tuttle, 19, of Branson:
Domestic Assault, 1st Degree, Serious Physical Injury
Armed Criminal Action

This case remains an active investigation and the victim remains in Branson PD's thoughts and prayers. Any questions relating to charges should be directed to the Taney County Prosecutor.

Oklahoma prisoner sentenced for operating Greene, Polk County meth conspiracy from jail cell

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

An inmate of the Lawton Correctional Facility in Oklahoma has been sentenced in federal court for leading a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Greene and Polk Counties while he was incarcerated.

Joshua A. Ramirez, 39, who has no legal address, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Tuesday, May 7, to 26 years in federal prison without parole. Ramirez was sentenced as a career criminal due to his prior felony convictions.

On Aug. 16, 2023, Ramirez pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Ramirez admitted that he facilitated large methamphetamine transactions from within the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Ramirez utilized drug couriers to transport methamphetamine and collect proceeds from several co-conspirators in southwest Missouri and elsewhere. Ramirez used a source of supply in Juarez, Mexico.

According to court documents, Ramirez is responsible for the distribution of 907 kilograms of methamphetamine.







During the time of this drug-trafficking conspiracy, Ramirez was serving a state felony sentence in Oklahoma for distributing a controlled substance and waiting to be released and transferred to federal custody to begin serving a 20-year prison sentence in a separate and unrelated case for distributing a controlled substance in the Northern District of Texas.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the El Dorado Springs, Mo., Police Department.

Springfield man sentenced for heroin conspiracy

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in Greene County, Mo.

James D. Elbert, 42, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 10 years in federal prison without parole.

On July 5, 2023, Elbert pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. Elbert admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to distribute at least 100 grams of heroin in Greene County from Oct. 2, 2015, to Nov. 13, 2017. Elbert admitted that, on three separate occasions, he sold a total of 6.86 grams of heroin to a law enforcement undercover informant in Springfield.

Elbert is the ninth and final defendant to be sentenced in this case.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randall D. Eggert and Cameron A. Beaver. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Ozark, Mo., Police Department.

Forsyth man drowns while fishing at Bull Shoals Lake

A Forsyth man drowned 2:08 p.m. Tuesday at Mile Marker 82- White River Arm in Bull Shoals Lake. 

According to the Highway Patrol report, Larry Dilday, 75, Forsyth, was fishing from the bank, fell into the water and was found floating face down.

Dilday was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:44 p.m.

The drowning was the second this year for Highway Patrol Troop D.

Jury convicts El Dorado Springs man on child pornography charge

(From the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of St. Louis)

An El Dorado Springs, Mo., man who was caught with thousands of images and videos of child pornography was convicted at trial today.

John Fitzgerald Mullings, 51, was found guilty of two counts of receiving and distributing child pornography.

Law enforcement received multiple reports from MeWe, Dropbox and Snapchat of Mullings uploading images and videos of child pornography to their servers. Investigators contacted Mullings at his residence on March 2, 2021. Officers seized Mullings’s cell phone, which contained 678 images and 96 videos of child pornography, including rape and/or bondage of minors.

Mullings was indicted on one count of receiving and distributing child pornography from Feb. 2, 2020, to March 2, 2021, based on these images and videos.

On Aug. 3, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Mullings’s residence (which also served as the office for his business, Steward Wrecker) in relation to an unrelated state criminal investigation. Officers seized 14 cell phones, multiple computers, laptop computers and computer tablets, as well as electronic storage devices. Investigators conducted a forensic examination of those devices and determined that 11 of those electronic devices contained child pornography. On just one of Mullings’s tablets investigators found 5,197 images and 211 videos. The files included visual depictions of sexual conduct with animals, binding and/or forced sexual contact with persons, and physical assault and deceased persons. In total, investigators found 14,249 images, and 2,054 videos of child pornography among Mulling’s devices.

Mullings was charged in a superseding indictment with an additional count of receiving and distributing child pornography from March 3, 2021 to Aug. 3, 2022, based on these images and videos.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., deliberated for 27 minutes before returning guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool, ending a trial that began Monday, May 6.

Under federal statutes, Mullings is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 40 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie L. Wan and James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Barry County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Cassville, Mo., Police Department, the El Dorado Springs, Mo., Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.

Mount Vernon police detective helps woman whose dog was attacked, killed

(From the Mount Vernon Police Department)

On 04/23/2024 Detective Dunklin of the Mount Vernon Police Department received a commendation from Police Chief Dave Hubert and the City of Mount Vernon for an act of kindness he performed outside the scope of his duties.

 
On 04/06/2024 Detective Dunklin responded to an animal attack call on Center St. in Mount Vernon. The caller’s dog had been attacked and killed by loose dogs in her backyard, she also suffered injuries from the animal attack.

 
After the victim was transported by Mercy EMS, Detective Dunklin took it upon himself to bury the dog for the victim in her backyard under a shady tree and write her a note expressing his condolences and his action of burying the animal, so she did not have to see him in the state he was in. 

Detective Dunklin’s actions express humanity and compassion beyond the badge and uniform.

Aurora-Marionville Police Department has four new tasers

(From the Aurora-Marionville Police Department)

AMPD took delivery of and will be deploying four new Taser 10 Tasers. In previous versions, the cartridge only fired once. 

If the Taser failed, officers had to move quickly into a different level of force, possibly deadly. This made things more dangerous for officers and suspects.

 
With this new version, the Taser is loaded with 10 darts that can be fired in semi-automatic fashion. This gives us nine more chances of ending a dangerous situation safely and hopefully without injuries to suspects and especially our staff. 

Additionally, these units are equipped with high definition cameras that record the events leading up to Taser deployment to be used for evidence and accountability.

Springfield man arrested after threatening to kill everyone inside building

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Friday afternoon, officers responded to the 2700 block of E. Sunshine. 

Shane Silvey, 39, entered a secure area of the building and threatened to kill everyone inside. When approached, Silvey fled on foot. Officers located Silvey and he was taken into custody. 

Silvey was arrested and booked into the Greene County Jail for terroristic threats, trespassing and an outstanding warrant.

Springfield man killed in collision, other driver leaves the scene

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On May 4, at 3:35 a.m., officers with the Springfield Police Department responded to a vehicle crash at Cherry St. and Oak Grove Ave.

Bryan Hasler, 44, from Springfield was driving a Jeep Commander eastbound on Cherry St., when he attempted to pass a silver sedan. The sedan hit Hasler’s Jeep, causing the Jeep to leave the road, and hit a pole. The silver sedan left the scene. The make and model of the silver sedan is unknown.

Hasler was transported to the hospital where he later died. Hasler’s family has been notified.

The circumstances of the crash are part of an ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information about the crash should contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or the tips hotline at 417-869-TIPS.

This was Springfield’s eighth fatal motor vehicle crash in 2024.

Search continues for Aurora absconder who abandoned car and meth

(From the Aurora-Marionville Police Department)

Early this morning, the Aurora-Marionville Police Department attempted a traffic stop in the northern area of the city of Aurora. The black Chevrolet Traverse failed to stop and engaged our officers in a short pursuit. The vehicle crashed on Carnation street near Farm Road 2195. When it crashed, the driver exited and ran.

 
The driver has been identified as Jamie Cook of Aurora. Cook is wanted by the Missouri Department of Corrections as an absconder. We have no information leading us to believe he is armed. He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt.

 
Several law enforcement agencies are in the area with a perimeter set up and we intend to take him into custody peacefully unless he decides otherwise. Some fully rested and excellent K9’s are looking for him. Getting bit or not will be his decision.

We have his methamphetamine and the car secured. If you see him, please call 911 immediately and don’t approach. We will update the community when we have more information.