Pedestrian killed on Kansas Expressway

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On October 1st at 11:02 p.m., officers with the Springfield Police Department responded to the area of Kansas Expressway and Interstate 44 regarding a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian.

A red 2000 Jeep Wrangler, driven by Laine Smith age 37 of Springfield, MO, was entering the westbound merge lane onto Interstate 44 from southbound Kansas Expressway when it struck a female pedestrian who was walking in the roadway of the merge lane.







The pedestrian was transported by EMS to an area medical facility where she died from injuries related to the crash.

The pedestrian’s identity has not been released at this time, pending notification of her next of kin. Impairment is not suspected at this time.

The investigation is ongoing as to the circumstances involved in the crash.

This is the eleventh fatality motor vehicle crash in Springfield during 2019.   

Cassville man flown to Cox South after motorcycle crash

A Cassville man was injured in a one-vehicle accident 10 p.m. Monday on Farm Road 2140, five miles northeast of Cassville.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2001 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Skylan L. Fare, 32, Cassville, ran off the roadway and struck a fence.

Fare was flown to Cox South Hospital, Springfield, to be treated for serious injuries.

Highway Patrol Arrests September 30-October 1

Cassandra C. Hernandez, 38, Springfield, felony parole warrant-assault, displaying the plates of another, no seat belt

Ricky A. Cason, 57, Stockton, misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, careless and imprudent driving involving a crash

Mikael L. Werner, 19, Marshfield, misdemeanor Laclede County warrant for bad checks








Jair Vallejo Montoya, 29, Branson, driving while intoxicated, careless and imprudent driving

Melissa M. Dodd, 36, Springfield, felony tampering with a motor vehicle

Dustin Wood, 32, Marionville, driving while intoxicated, careless and imprudent driving, driving while suspended, possession of drug paraphernalia

Construction work to begin Thursday at intersection of Division Street and Commercial Street

(From the City of Springfield)

Construction work to improve safety at the intersection of Division Street and Commercial Street is set to begin Thursday, Oct. 3.

The Division Street and Commercial Street Intersection Improvement Project involves modifying the intersection into a more traditional configuration, straightening the lanes of Division Street to a traditional three-lane section of roadway and reconstructing Commercial Street to intersect at a 90-degree angle and new stop sign.

Sidewalks will be relocated to run parallel to the new roadway alignment and will include ADA accessibility upgrades.

This project is expected to last 60 days and will require the complete closure of Commercial Street for a significant portion of construction. Impacts to traffic will be announced with as much notice as possible.

The project is estimated to cost $213,000 funded through the 1/8-cent Transportation Sales Tax. The construction contractor for the project is A.T. Urban Development, Inc.

Springfield man sentenced to 17 years for meth trafficking

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

A Springfield, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute more than four kilograms of methamphetamine in Greene County, Mo.

Loueadry Earl John Powell Jr., 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 17 years and six months in federal prison without parole.

On April 8, 2019, Powell pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from March 22 to June 22, 2017, and to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

The investigation began when a federal postal inspector in Los Angeles, California, identified two suspicious parcels addressed to separate Springfield addresses on June 19, 2017. A federal postal inspector and Springfield police officers conducted a controlled delivery of one of those parcels. Although the parcel was not addressed to him by name, Powell was contacted at the residence of the address and accepted the package.

A controlled delivery of the second package was attempted, but the residence appeared to be unoccupied and no one answered the door.

Each of the parcels contained 2,234.2 grams of methamphetamine with a purity level ranging from 95 to 100 percent.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nhan D. Nguyen. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

Springfield man pleads guilty to meth conspiracy, money laundering charges

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

A Springfield, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy that distributed 45 kilograms of methamphetamine in southwest Missouri.

Kenneth R. Friend, 48, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 27 years in federal prison without parole.

Friend pleaded guilty on April 5, 2019, to participating in the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Greene, Polk, Christian, Jasper, Laclede, and Webster Counties from June 1, 2013, through Nov. 29, 2014. Friend also pleaded guilty to money laundering by engaging in monetary transactions to promote unlawful activity.







Beginning in 2012, the Drug Enforcement Administration, assisted by other agencies, investigated one of the largest methamphetamine distribution rings in southwest Missouri. The investigation resulted in the indictment of 29 defendants. Friend is among 28 defendants who have pleaded guilty in this case and have been sentenced.

Friend admitted the conspiracy was responsible for the distribution of more than 45 kilograms of methamphetamine.

During the conspiracy, Friend obtained large amounts of methamphetamine from various sources. For example, Friend paid one source $20,000 in early November 2014 for two pounds of methamphetamine. Friend also intended to purchase a large amount of methamphetamine from one of his sources on Nov. 27, 2014.

As part of the investigation, law enforcement officers arrested Friend, his then-girlfriend and one of his suppliers. During the execution of a federal search warrant at the supplier’s residence in Springfield, agents found approximately $20,000 and approximately five and a half pounds of methamphetamine. Friend admitted that he intended to purchase at least two of the five and a half pounds seized from this source of supply. Agents also seized $34,310 from Friend, which he had intended to use to purchase the two pounds of methamphetamine.

Agents also seized Friend’s 1992 Harley Davidson motorcycle, which he used to distribute methamphetamine and which he purchased with proceeds from the sale of methamphetamine. Friend must forfeit the cash that was seized and the motorcycle to the government.

This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nhan D. Nguyen and Cynthia J. Hyde. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Cassville man flown to Mercy Springfield following motorcycle crash

A Cassville man was injured in a one-vehicle accident 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Highway 112 and Farm Road 2218, five miles south of Cassville.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2010 Harley Davidson driven by Travis J. Meyer, 37, Cassville, drove off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree.

Moore was flown to Mercy Hospital, Springfield, to be treated for moderate injuries.

Rogersville teen seriously injured crashing into bluff

A Rogersville teen was injured in a one-vehicle accident 12:40 p.m. today on U. S. 60, a half-mile east of Springfield.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt driven by Malanie I. Diaz, 17, Rogersville, ran off the south side of a roadway, struck a bluff and overturned. Diaz was ejected from the vehicle.

Diaz was treated for serious injuries at Cox Medical Center, Springfield.

Highway Patrol Arrests September 29-30

Kristin A. Glover, 24, Harrison, Arkansas, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, operating a motor vehicle without a valid license

Mandy S. Boring, 42, Cassville, felony possession of a controlled substance-xanax

Bobby J. Britton, 42, Clever, felony driving while intoxicated, felony leaving the scene of an accident, following too closely








Cory R. Wilson, 42, Kansas City, felony unlawful possession of a firearm, leaving the scene of an accident

Marty E. Johnson, 54, Marionville, driving while intoxicated, driving while suspended, speeding, misdemeanor Taney County warrant for driving while intoxicated

William G. Youngblood, 53, Reeds Spring, two misdemeanor warrants for failure to appear on traffic violations

Seligman teen charged with DWI after crashing into tree, injuring three

A Seligman man was charged with driving while intoxicated following a one-vehicle crash 1 a.m. today on Farm Road 2275, five miles east of Seligman.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 1993 Jeep Wranger driven by Chanceler J. Black, 19, Seligman, left the roadway and struck a tree.

Black and a passenger, Steven J. Skinkis, 21, Seligman, were treated for moderate injuries at Mercy Hospital, Rogers, Arkansas.







Another passenger, Mason Owens, 18, Washburn, did not seek treatment for minor injuries.

In addition to DWI, Black was cited for failure to drive on the right half of the roadway resulting in a crash and for not wearing a seat belt.