Five arrested in Poplar Bluff after pseudoephedrine purchase

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Five individuals were arrested Tuesday and face charges of attempting to manufacture methamphetamine following a tip from Kroger Pharmacy employees.

Poplar Bluff Police Department narcotics officer Corey Mitchell received a tip Tuesday that individuals had bought pseudoephedrine pills. Mitchell then contacted narcotics officer Bradley Santos with the Butler County Sheriff's Department.

Butler County deputies tracked the Jeep Cherokee Kroger employees told them the individuals were driving.

"Between Kroger and Harviell the deputy located the vehicle and stopped them," said Santos, adding that before being pulled over, the driver of the vehicle turned off onto another road to avoid the deputy. The vehicle was eventually pulled over on County Road 488, close to Highway 160.

"In the vehicle, we located the 40 pseudoephedrine pills they purchased through Walgreens, Wal-Mart and Kroger," Santos said. Eight lithium batteries also were found. The lithium is often removed from the batteries to make methamphetamine. The stop led to the arrest of the driver, Harvey Arkie Jacobs, 24, of Corning, Ark., and two passengers, Frank Eugene Rigdon, 36, of Harviell, Mo., and Christy Howell, 29, of Corning, Ark. All three were arrested at the Butler County Sheriff's Department.

"We went to Rigdon's home after he advised us he had other items at the residence to make methamphetamine," said Santos. There they found liquid fire and 1.5 gallons of Coleman fuel. Rigdon also advised them he had a 5-gallon air tank of anhydrous ammonia that he stole from Bell City, Mo.

"We went to pick up the anhydrous tank on County Road 352. (Drug Task Force Officer) Scott Johnson went to recover the tank. During the process of destroying it, the area became engulfed with fumes from the anhydrous. He had to be removed because he was in very serious danger of being exposed to those chemicals. He couldn't see or breathe. We had to go grab him by the arm to get him out," said Santos. "At that time we contacted Stoddard County and they came to retrieve the anhydrous tank as evidence.

"After this we also learned Rigdon had another vehicle out to get ingredients," Santos said. Megan Ragsdale, 23, of Tulsa, Okla., and Billy Jean Warbriton, 35, of Harviell were stopped on County Road 352. "Through their own admission they said they had been sent to Doniphan to purchase ephedrine pills."

All five individuals are being charged with attempt to manufacture methamphetamine. Jacobs had warrants out for failure to appear for driving while revoked, driving while intoxicated and traffic violation. Jacobs, Warbriton and Rigdon remained in the Butler County jail Wednesday. Ragsdale and Howell have been released.

"None of this would have been possible without Kroger advising us of what's going on and from the hard work from the deputy trying to find the Jeep Cherokee. It was a good collaborative effort between other agencies," Santos said. "We expect more arrests to be made in reference to this case. Stoddard County will also be seeking charges."