Two Scott County men arrested on suspicion of meth trafficking

Ronald Ford

BENTON, Mo. -- Two Scott County men were arrested Thursday when investigators with the Scott County Sheriff's Department saw one allegedly destroying evidence connected to a methamphetamine lab.

Ronald D. Ford, 37, and Dewayne A. Kluesner, 42, both of Benton were charged with second degree drug trafficking, attempting to manufacture a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of methamphetamine precursors. Bond is set at $50,000 for both men.

Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said undercover investigators received information that the men were involved with illegal drug activity at Ford's house outside Benton. Thursday morning, investigators saw Ford leave the residence in a vehicle. He later stopped and appeared to destroy evidence.

Dewayne Kluesner

Both men were arrested and officers obtained a warrant to search the house. They found chemicals associated with manufacturing the drug. A substance believed to be methamphetamine was also found in the house.

Walter said the investigation yielded a larger than normal amount of products used to manufacture the

substance.