Stoddard County sheriff's deputies bust three meth suspects

BELL CITY, Mo. -- Shots were fired and a lengthy pursuit ensued after Stoddard County deputies interrupted three men allegedly attempting to steal anhydrous ammonia early Wednesday morning.

The incident began at the Southeast Co-op Service Co. at Mesler, north of Bell City. It ended nearly a half-hour later in Delta.

Like they routinely do, Stoddard County deputies were conducting surveillance on the anhydrous tanks there last night, said Stoddard County Sheriff Steve Fish. Anhydrous ammonia is a precursor used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

"Last night at about quarter after midnight some folks from Steele, Mo., were caught up there," Fish said, adding that officers observed a vehicle pull into the lot next to an anhydrous tank and attempt to steal the chemical.

Fish said the officers approached the vehicle, identified themselves and ordered the occupants to stop.

"The driver of the vehicle accelerated," he said. "It appeared they were trying to run down one of my deputies, Keith Haynes," Fish said. "Keith fired a couple warning shots in the air as he was trying to jump out of the way." Deputy Dennis Fowler, who is assigned to the SEMO Drug Task Force, also "fired several shots at the vehicle trying to disable the vehicle," Fish said.

"He was basically shooting at the tires trying to shoot out the tires," he added.

The suspects allegedly led Haynes and Fowler into Scott County, back to Stoddard County and back into Scott County, Fish said. The pursuit ended in the community of Delta in Cape County.

The suspects were taken into custody at that point. They are identified as Nathaniel Douglas Hammond, 22, Travis Wayne Childs Jr., 18, and Hubert Howard Galbraith, 46.

Fish said Childs was the alleged driver of the vehicle.

While Hammond and Childs were booked at the Stoddard County Jail, Galbraith was taken to Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter where he was treated for a minor wound to his leg, said Fish.

"Apparently from the investigation so far, one of the shots -- a fragment from that bullet or something a bullet struck -- hit (Galbraith) in the leg," Fish said.

According to Fish, he called in the Missouri State Highway Patrol and its Division of Drug and Crime Control to "investigate the officer-involved shooting and they are presently investigating it." Fowler and Haynes will remain on duty during that investigation, Fish said.

Earlier this morning, Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn charged Hammond, Childs and Galbraith in connection with the incident.

All three are charged with the Class A felony of first-degree assault, the Class A felony of armed criminal action, the Class C felony of stealing and the Class D felony possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hammond and Galbraith are being held on $75,000 cash bond, while Childs' bond is set at $100,000.

These suspects are among many who have been caught during the last few years attempting to steal anhydrous from the Southeast Co-op.

"You would think word would get that we stake that place out pretty often," said Fish. "These three, of course, were from out of town also, which is indicative of the people we catch at that location from out of town and out of state."