Eureka Police arrested a St. Clair woman and man, both 35, after pulling over the van they were traveling in on I-44 and allegedly finding drugs and a gun in the car. The woman was driving the van, which had an expired license plate, police reported.
The man was wanted by St. Louis County Police on a warrant for shoplifting, and police believe he may be linked to a tampering charge in St. Louis County where the suspect provided a fake name to officers, Eureka Police reported.
At about 3:55 p.m. March 16, an officer saw the woman driving the 2006 Dodge Caravan on I-44 and the van had just one license plate on it. The officer discovered the license plate was expired and stopped the van near the Hwy. 109 exit, the report said.
When the officer approached the van, he smelled marijuana, and neither the woman nor the man had a medical marijuana card. The officer also discovered the man was wanted by the St. Louis County Police, and he was arrested and taken to the Eureka Police Station, where he was held for St. Louis County Police, according to the report.
The officer searched the van and allegedly found a .9-milimieter semi-automatic pistol; a metal cylinder that contained a powder-like substance and pills; and a purse with a bag inside that contained loose pills. The officer also found a grinder in the glove compartment, and the grinder appeared to have marijuana residue on it, Eureka Police reported.
The woman was arrested and taken to the Police Station, where it was discovered she had another metal cylinder in her bra, and the cylinder contained a crystal-like substance that appeared to be methamphetamine. The woman allegedly told officers the pills were ecstasy and the gun and grinder belonged to a family member, according to the report.
She was booked and released pending the application for warrants. Depending on results of the drug analysis, Eureka Police will seek charges against the woman through the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful use of a weapon, Lt. Michael Werges said.