Sikeston man arrested on drug charges

BENTON, Mo. -- Markel Charles Fitchpatrick, 40, of Sikeston, Missouri, has been charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, unlawful use of drug paraphernalia and driving while revoked.

Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said that about 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, Cpl. Justin Wooten and deputy Robyn Merideth were traveling east on Route U in Scott County when a white pickup truck with Missouri license plates swerved off the roadway and into a construction site in Blodgett, Missouri.

Police identified the driver as Fitchpatrick after he entered a building and left again.

Under questioning, Fitchpatrick said he had been contracted to work on a building. Deputies searched and found no one else inside, but they uncovered a bag containing a syringe and a substance later confirmed as methamphetamine.

Fitchpatrick was arrested and brought to the Scott County Jail, where he submitted a urine sample. The sample tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamines.

Pertinent address:

Blodgett, Mo.