Poplar Bluff man accused of using shake-and-bake meth lab as bomb

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Two Poplar Bluff men were charged Friday afternoon in connection with a suspected shake-and-bake methamphetamine lab that was hurled as an explosive device, catching a trailer on fire and injuring a Butler County deputy.

Shawn Del Daggett, 32, of the 2000 block of Hillsdale and Glenn Allen Yandell, 25, of the 500 block of Poplar Street were charged with the Class B felony of manufacturing a controlled substance by Butler County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Paul Oesterreicher.

Daggett also was charged with felony first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer, the unclassified felony of armed criminal action and felony first-degree arson.

After reviewing the probable cause affidavits and complaints filed with the court, Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth issued warrants for Daggett and Yandell's arrests and respectively set their bonds at $200,000 and $25,000.

The charges stem from an investigation by the Butler County Sheriff's Department at a residence in the 1600 block of Highway 142 at Harviell, Mo.

According to Sgt. Brandon Waggoner's affidavit, he had information indicating a wanted person was frequenting Charles Kneir Jr.'s Highway 142 residence and that the person was driving a Chevrolet Impala.

At about 10 p.m. Thursday, Waggoner said, he saw a car matching the description at the residence, and he and other deputies went there in an attempt to contact the wanted man.

As Waggoner and Deputy Ryan Thurman approached the front of the residence, Waggoner said, deputies James Skinner and Matt McGraw went to the back in case someone tried to flee.

Waggoner said they contacted Kneir, who gave the deputies permission to look for the wanted man.

On their walk through, Waggoner said, they found Destiny Lynn Kneir and Melissa Kay Burns in the living room.

Upon entering a bedroom, "I witnessed a clear, plastic corner Baggie that appeared to have a white substance in it," Waggoner said. Suspected marijuana residue also was seen in plain view in the living room.

As Waggoner was completing his search, he said, Skinner told them there were "subjects behind the residence."

Upon exiting, Waggoner said, he saw a singlewide mobile home, which "appeared to be unlivable."

McGraw, according to Waggoner, saw a man, later identified as Daggett, exit the trailer with a 2-liter bottle in his hands.

"[McGraw] observed Daggett slowly open the cap, at which time he heard the sound of the contents under pressure being released," Waggoner said. "He could then smell an extremely strong chemical smell, which he knows to be associated with the manufacturing of methamphetamine."

When McGraw shined his flashlight on Daggett, announced himself as a deputy and told Daggett to put the bottle on the ground, "Daggett immediately ran back inside the mobile home …," Waggoner said.

Several attempts, according to McGraw's report, were made to gain entry to "apprehend Daggett and to secure any and all evidence … however, the doors were tightly secured and opened toward the outside."

When Waggoner attempted to gain entry into a back door, he said, he found a sheet of plywood had been nailed up over the door.

As Waggoner attempted to remove the plywood, he said, he identified himself as being with the sheriff's department and ordered the subjects to open the door.

"I could hear the subjects inside, running from one end of the trailer to the other," Waggoner said. "I then heard and felt a loud pop on the inside of the door.

"I immediately witnessed smoke coming through the door and into my face."

Waggoner said he also saw flames around the door and through the window next to the door.

"It was evident that the lab was thrown at the door, in an attempt to cause serious physical injury, as I was attempting to enter while announcing myself," Waggoner said.

At that point, the deputies requested the Butler County Fire Department respond.

" … Moments later, the entire living room area of the mobile home was engulfed in flames," said Waggoner, who later experienced irritation to his skin and eyes due to the exposure.

Waggoner said Daggett, who is on parole for manufacturing methamphetamine, and Yandell, who also was wanted on a failure to appear warrant for no operator's license, were arrested when they exited the front door of the mobile home.

A search warrant subsequently was applied for the residence, vehicles and mobile home and executed by the deputies early Friday morning, according to narcotics investigator Wesley Popp's report.

Among the items found were several Coleman fuel cans, a bag containing about 10 pounds of ammonia nitrate, suspected drug paraphernalia, a bag containing a white residue, suspected marijuana, acetone, muriatic acid and a book titled "Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacturing," Popp said.

Charles Kneir, 24, was arrested on suspicion of possession of fewer than 35 grams of marijuana, while Destiny Kneir, 27, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance.

Burns, 22, of the 1000 block of Harper was arrested on suspicion of possession of fewer than 35 grams of marijuana and on failure to appear warrants for possession of drug paraphernalia, distribution/delivery/manufacture of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and warrants for probation violation on two charges of possession of fewer than 35 grams of marijuana.

All five individuals were booked at the Butler County jail.

Pertinent address:

Harviell, MO

Poplar Bluff, MO