Suspect swallows evidence, but only after video evidence captured, police say

A Marble Hill, Missouri, man swallowed methamphetamine before Bollinger County sheriff’s deputies could search his vehicle, deputies said, but a confidential informant working with deputies had captured on video the man talking about selling drugs just before the traffic stop.

Marble Hill police arrested Kenneth Thor Anderson, 49, on Wednesday. The Bollinger County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Anderson with felony attempt to deliver a controlled substance and felony tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution.

His bond was set at $10,000 cash.

Deputies set up a buy between an informant and Anderson for 1.25 grams of methamphetamine about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to a probable-cause statement filed in the case by deputy Darren Bullard.

Deputies stopped Anderson’s vehicle about 45 minutes later on Highway 51 in Marble Hill, according to the statement.

The informant told deputies Anderson kept the methamphetamine in a cigarette box, and deputies found an empty Marlboro cigarette box on the vehicle’s passenger-side floorboard, Bullard wrote.

Deputies suspected Anderson swallowed the methamphetamine, but the informant told deputies there was a video recording of Anderson in a residence attempting to sell the drugs, Bullard wrote.

The video included Anderson taking out a bag of methamphetamine, putting it on the table and discussing a price, according to the statement.

Anderson said he was going to Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and intended to return with more methamphetamine, Bullard wrote.

After Anderson was arrested Tuesday, he waived his right to remain silent and spoke to Bullard, according to the statement.

Anderson said he had eaten the methamphetamine to prevent its discovery, Bullard wrote.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

Highway 51 South, Marble Hill, Mo.