Traffic stop in Jackson yields drug-related arrests

A routine traffic stop Wednesday night in Jackson led to a manhunt and the charging of three individuals for methamphetamine-related crimes.

At around 7:30 p.m., the Jackson Police Department made a traffic stop in the 900 block of Greensferry Road in Jackson. During the stop, officers found what appeared to be a mobile methamphetamine laboratory.

The car's driver, 30-year-old David M. Tucker of Jackson, fled on foot, leading police on a chase that lasted several hours.

Tucker's passengers, Jonathan S. Faulkner, 26, and Mary G. Ide, 25, both also of Jackson, stayed at the vehicle with officers while the chase occurred. A K-9 unit with the Cape Girardeau Police Department was called in to assist with the search for Tucker, and he later surrendered to Jackson police about one mile from the stop.

With assistance from the SEMO Drug Task Force, officers then searched the homes of the three suspects and found items for manufacturing methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and controlled substances in each home.

The search in Tucker's residence at 206 S. Bellevue St. also led to the arrest of 30-year-old Carmen E. Smith, who was later released pending charges.

Tucker has been charged with a class B felony of attempting to manufacture methamphetamine, a class C felony of possession of a controlled substance, two counts of a class A misdemeanor of resisting arrest and driving while suspended and a class C misdemeanor of failure to signal.

Faulkner and Ide were each charged with a class B felony of attempt to manufacture methamphetamine.

All three were still being held in the Cape Girardeau County Jail Thursday afternoon. Tucker has a $25,000 bond, while Faulkner and Ide each have $20,000 bonds.

In an unrelated arrest, an 18-year-old Jackson man is facing felony charges for drug possession after a police search Tuesday afternoon at his residence, according to the Jackson Police Department.

At approximately 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jackson police served a search warrant at the residence of Blake C. Leming, located at 320 Hidden Meadows Drive. The search was the result of information obtained during the citywide drug investigation being conducted by the department.

Police found controlled substances believed to be cocaine and marijuana along with drug paraphernalia.

Leming is being charged with a class C felony of possession of a controlled substance, cocaine; a class A misdemeanor of possession of marijuana; and the class A misdemeanor of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Leming's bond was set at $7,500 and he bonded out Wednesday.

msanders@semissourian.com

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