METH IINGREDIENT THIEVES RUN INTO POLICE

WHITEWATER -- Police said a Poplar Bluff man nearly ran over a state Highway Patrol trooper after a failed theft of anhydrous ammonia earlier this week.

The incident occurred at the farmer's co-op in Whitewater about 11:30 p.m. on Monday, Trooper Aaron Harrison reported. He and Dwayne Whitworth of the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's office were at the co-op on a stakeout when a van pulled onto the lot and drove to the anhydrous ammonia tanks with its headlights off. Thefts of anhydrous ammonia, an ingredient in methamphetamine, have been a problem at farm co-ops, members of the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force have reported. As Harrison approached, he saw two men get out of the van. They opened the van's sliding door and removed two propane tanks. The men carried the propane tanks between the anhydrous ammonia tanks, and then one of the men returned and stood by the van.

Harrison described hearing the man who left with the propane tanks remove a hose from a anhydrous ammonia tank, followed by a hissing sound. After giving him a few minutes to collect anhydrous ammonia in the propane tanks, Harrison came closer, turned his flashlight on the two and ordered them to get on the ground.

The man closest to the van ran for the driver's side door. As Harrison ran after him, the man started the van and drove it in reverse. When the van ran into a field applicator, the driver changed gears and began to go forward, accelerating toward Harrison. As the trooper stepped to the side, he was struck by the passenger side mirror. Harrison recovered and grabbed the sliding side door of the van and was able to jump in. Then Harrison struck the driver in the head, pulled out his gun and ordered the man to stop the van. As the van continued forward, the man put it in park and attempted to escape out the driver's door. The man struck Harrison with his elbow, and ran off on foot. After running to one side of the Whitewater Baptist Church, the man threw an object at the trooper. He was finally stopped in the yard of a residence across from the church when deputy Whitworth appeared. The man, identified as Troy E. Marlow, 28, of Poplar Bluff, was arrested by Harrison. While Harrison was chasing Marlow, Whitworth arrested the second man, Scott B. Guess, 28, of Dexter.

A .25-caliber semiautomatic handgun was later recovered by the manager of the co-op near the church. It was fully loaded and had a bullet in its chamber, Harrison said.

Marlow later told investigators that a man in Poplar Bluff had offered to buy the tanks filled with anhydrous ammonia for $500 each, Harrison said.

Marlow was charged with assaulting a law officer, stealing, resisting arrest, unlawful use of a weapon, driving while intoxicated, and trespassing. He is in the Cape Girardeau County Jail under a $50,000 bondGuess was charged with stealing, resisting arrest, trespassing and driving while intoxicated. He is in jail under a bond of $15,000. Justin J. Constantino, 23, of Poplar Bluff, was later found walking along Route A about three miles from the co-op. It was discovered that the van used by Marlow and Guess was registered in Constantino's name.

Constantino was arrested and charged with stealing, resisting arrest, and trespassing. He is being held in Stoddard County on separate charges.