Police pursuit ends with drug arrest

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- A short police chase in Bollinger County ended with the arrest of a man caught with 20 pounds of marijuana.

A Chevrolet pickup truck northbound on Highway 51 near Route A crossed the center line at 7:37 p.m. Tuesday, prompting a sheriff's officer to attempt to stop the vehicle, according to a probable-cause affidavit.

Instead of pulling over, the truck sped off and turned down a private drive where the driver, Larry A. Miller, 42, of Marquand, Mo., was arrested, the affidavit said.

Recognizing Miller from a previous arrest for manufacture of methamphetamine, a sheriff's sergeant called for a K-9 unit, which indicated narcotics were inside the vehicle.

When a search of the truck failed to turn up contraband, officers searched along the roadway and found four 5-pound bags of marijuana, the affidavit said.

Miller admitted the drugs were his and he threw them from the truck while attempting to elude police to avoid being caught with them, according to the affidavit.

The defendant said he was en route to Patton Junction to sell the marijuana to a person for $15,000. In exchange for delivering the drugs, Miller said he would be paid $2,000, according to the affidavit.

Miller was charged Wednesday with felony possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, resisting arrest and tampering with evidence.

He is being held in lieu of a $15,000 bond.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127