Women arrested on meth charges after 30-mile chase

KENNETT, Mo. -- Two women led police on a nearly 30-mile chase late Monday night before being arrested in a rural cemetery, the Daily Dunklin Democrat reported.

Rhonda Hindmon, 47, and Misty Cooksey, 27, both of Kennett, were observed in a maroon van and driving at high speed on Ely Road in Kennett at 11 p.m. on Monday. When Kennett police tried to conduct a traffic stop, the duo took off north on Highway 25. Kennett officer Aaron Waynick reported in the probable cause affidavit the approximate speed of the van on Highway 25 was 80 mph.

"While behind the vehicle I could smell a chemical odor and believed a methamphetamine lab could be inside the vehicle," Waynick said.

Rhonda Hindmon

Waynick reported Hindmon and Cooksey continued to head north on Highway 25 and turned east onto Highway 153. After turning onto County Road 400, Waynick said the passenger -- later identified as Hindmon -- threw several items out of the van.

Waynick said he saw a green bottle and the bottle exploded on impact with the ground. "I could small a very strong chemical odor," he said.

He stated he felt the occupants of the van were trying to discard an active methamphetamine lab.

At the intersection of County Road 331 and Highway 25, the van reportedly swerved and nearly struck Dunklin County Sheriff's Department Deputy William Hill. Hill escaped without injury.

The high-speed pursuit finally came to a stop in a cemetery on Country Road 327 north of the Gibson community.

Following the pursuit, officers returned to County Road 400 where Waynick had witnessed items being thrown from the van.

Kennett police officer Mark Dennis reported Tuesday evening that canine officer Midas was able to quickly locate the items thrown from the vehicle using the scent of the suspects.

Midas located and officers recovered a number of items, including a green 2-liter plastic bottle and a 20-ounce soft drink bottle, both containing a very strong chemical odor. The large bottle still had pressure from the contents.

In addition, two white plastic bags were recovered and one bag had a gallon zipper bag containing a wet or damp "unknown white substance believed to be methamphetamine"

A plastic bag with coffee filers with a white substance on them were recovered. The white powder field tested positive for methamphetamine.

When the contents of the van were inventoried, officers found a sports ice pack and two stripped lithium batteries. Both items contain some of the ingredients necessary for a "shake and bake" methamphetamine lab.

Hindmon has been charged attempting to manufacture a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, and tampering with the physical evidence. Hindmon was the passenger in the van.

The driver of the van, Cooksey, was charged with attempting to manufacture methamphetamine, felony of possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, and assault of a law enforcement officer. According to the probable cause statement, Cooksey also has an outstanding felony warrant in Green County, Ark.

Both Hindmon and Cooksey are being held in the Dunklin County Justice Center on $30,000 surety bond.