Four people from Illinois charged after Cape chase

Felony charges have been brought against four Grand Tower, Ill., residents, alleging they were manufacturing methamphetamine in a Cape Girardeau hotel and two of them of leading police on a high-speed chase and resisting arrest.

Geoffrey A. Phelps, 23, was charged with possessing methamphetamine, two counts for having ingredients used to make meth, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest.

He also was charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Phelps' brother, Rodney D. Phelps, 31, was also arrested and charged with felony drug possession, possession of ingredients to make meth, drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor drug possession.

Harley R. Libert, 19, was charged with felonies for possession of ingredients to manufacture meth, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest.

Sarah M. Crowden, 21, was charged with felonies for possessing meth, ingredients to make meth, and a misdemeanor for paraphernalia.

All were being held in Cape Girardeau County Jail in lieu of bond late Saturday. Geoffrey Phelps' bond was the highest, set at $100,000.

According to police accounts, Illinois police told officials here that Geoffrey Phelps was staying in a hotel and was wanted for a drunken driving charge. Phelps was in his car with Libert when police were approaching the hotel Friday.

The two men took off and led police on a high-speed chase before running their car into a small tree. Libert was caught quickly, but Phelps wasn't caught for almost three hours while law enforcement officials scoured the area. He finally was spotted in a shed and taken into custody.

Rodney Phelps and Crowden were arrested in a Pear Tree Inn hotel room, where a meth lab had been set up, police said.