Police and Fire

Police dog sniffs out Vandalia man

Published by admin on Wed, 01/20/2021 - 11:10am

When deputies from the Audrain County Sheriff’s Office pulled Robert Lee Kohl over for a routine traffic violation last Saturday on S. Main Street in Vandalia they quickly became suspicious.

Their suspicions were reportedly justified. Deputies found methamphetamine and paraphernalia they believe is tied to the distribution, as well as use, of the drug.

The items were seized and Kohl was placed under arrest. He faces charges of delivery of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kohl was detained at the Audrain County Jail.

Four small fires snuffed by MPSD crews

Published by admin on Wed, 01/20/2021 - 11:09am

Firefighters with the Mexico Public Safety Department were kept busy last week by a series of small fires.

Three of these occurred along railroad tracks. On consecutive days -- Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday -- crews located flames at what they believed to be campsites next to the rights of way.

The fires on Tuesday and Wednesday were at unattended sites along the Kansas City Southern-Norfolk Southern line near the 1100 block of West Monroe Street. The flames were knocked down before they could spread.

Three facing drug charges

Published by admin on Wed, 01/13/2021 - 8:29pm

Two Mexico residents were taken into custody on Friday after law enforcement officers discovered drugs, paraphernalia and a weapon in their home. Another was arrested on similar charges Thursday.

Destinie Renae Helton, 36, and a related minor, were lodged in the Audrain County Jail for the Friday raid.

Acting on a search warrant, members of the Mexico Department of Public Safety, the Audrain County Sheriff’s Office and the East Central Drug Task Force investigated a home in the 1300 block of N. Washington Street occupied by Helton and the minor.

Two teens sentenced in 2019 homicide

Published by admin on Thu, 01/07/2021 - 8:37am

Two teens involved in the 2019 gunshot death of TaJuan Williams in Mexico have been sentenced to prison.

Demetric Dorsey, 17, received 10 years for one count of first degree involuntary manslaughter and 15 years for one count of armed criminal action. First Judicial Circuit judge Russell Steele determined that the two sentences will run concurrently.

Armed Mexico man threatens others

Published by admin on Wed, 12/23/2020 - 7:37am

For Brandon Davis, responding to a disturbance proved to be a bad idea.

The 29-year-old Mexico resident was arrested and jailed, facing charges of assault and unlawful use of a weapon following an incident that took place on Thursday, Dec. 17.

Officers from the Mexico Public Safety Department had responded to reports of a disturbance in the 1500 block of N. Washington and begin an investigation.

Authorities have not released the nature or cause of the disturbance. But according to MPSD officers, while it was going on, Davis appeared in the street with a gun.

10-year sentence for suspect in Audrain killing

Published by admin on Thu, 12/17/2020 - 11:47pm

A Warren County judge overseeing a manslaughter case from Audrain County has sentenced the suspect to 10 years in prison.

Dekhise E. Dorsey, 19, of Mexico, was sentenced last week after pleading guilty Sept. 9 to first-degree involuntary manslaughter. Dorsey was charged in the February 2019 shooting death of Ta’Juan Williams, 27, in Mexico. The case was transferred to Warren County Circuit Court in June 2019.

Law enforcement begins targeted enforcement

Published by admin on Thu, 12/17/2020 - 11:45pm

While this holiday season may be different from years past, a lot of those smaller, socially distanced gatherings will still most likely include alcoholic beverages. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety wants to remind those who plan to celebrate to designate a sober driver or call a ride to avoid driving impaired. Statewide, law enforcement will be on the lookout for substance-impaired drivers; with targeted enforcement efforts through Jan. 1, 2021.

Little Dixie responds to rural fire

Published by admin on Mon, 12/14/2020 - 10:11am

At 7:55 p.m. Thursday, the Little Dixie Fire Protection District was dispatched to 21851 Audrain Road 328 in reference to smoke in a one-story single family dwelling. Upon arrival found fire in the kitchen which had spread up into the attic.

Crews made an interior attack and quickly extinguished the fire. Fire damage was contained to the kitchen and attic above.

The fire district responded with two engines, three tankers, a rescue truck and 22 fire personnel.

Jail takes in Pike County inmates

Published by admin on Mon, 12/07/2020 - 10:41am

Staffing shortages at the Pike County Jail forced the sheriff to temporarily shut the facility and transfer 26 prisoners to Audrain County’s custody.

“It’s pretty common for sheriffs to house prisoners in another jail,” said Audrain County Sheriff Matt Oller, noting that Missouri statutes allow for it.

The transfer took place on Nov. 30 and is for an indefinite period. Oller believes they will remain in the Audrain County jail until the end of the year, but the stay could be extended into early January.

Honoring the fallen

Published by admin on Wed, 11/25/2020 - 7:43am

A line of duty funeral procession makes its way down Clark Street Monday afternoon. The funeral was held in honor of Richard Allen Wright, 61, of Mexico, who passed away on Thursday, Nov. 19, at Hannibal Regional Hospital. Funeral services were Monday at Arnold Funeral Home with Bob Stanford officiating with burial in East Lawn Memorial Park.

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