By KYLE W. MORRISON

Southeast Missourian

The husband of a Cape Girardeau city councilwoman admitted to police that cocaine found in his truck was his and that he had a decades-long drug problem, an officer testified Tuesday.

Brian Tracy, 53, of 689 Highland Drive, appeared before Associate Circuit Judge Scott Thomsen on charges felony possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and driving while suspended. His wife is councilwoman Debra Tracy.

The defendant was found at 7:15 a.m. Aug. 6 in his Ford F-150 truck that had gone off the roadway around the 1800 block of Big Bend Road, Cape Girardeau police officer Rob Watson testified. The vehicle went off the roadway shortly before midnight the day before.

Tracy was taken to a hospital, and Watson secured the truck and had it towed from the ditch to police headquarters, he said.

Watson later went into the truck to find valuables, cuff links and a watch, that Tracy and his wife said they wanted.

At that time, the officer found a baggie containing a white powdery substance in a cigarette pack, Watson testified.

The substance later field tested positive for cocaine as did residue in a vial found in the driver's side door, Watson said.

When Tracy and his wife arrived at the police station to collect the cuff links and watch, he was arrested.

After reading Tracy his Miranda warning, including the right to remain silent, Watson said he questioned the defendant about the drugs.

Tracy told the officer the drugs were his and that for the last 25 years he has had a cocaine problem, Watson said.

The defendant also said that he would likely test positive for cocaine and possibly methamphetamine, Watson said. While Tracy was at the hospital, he submitted to blood and urine tests for suspicion of driving while intoxicated, according to the officer.

Test results were not immediately available, assistant prosecuting attorney Jack Koester said.

Following the state's evidence, Thomsen bound Tracy over to circuit court. The defendant was scheduled to appear before Judge Benjamin Lewis on Nov. 13.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127