Pevely Police discovered what they believe to be 10 to 12 pounds of marijuana in a Pevely business April 10 while they were investigating claims by two women that they were held against their will for three weeks.
Patrolman Larry Miller was inside the Mobil On the Run gas station on Hwy. Z at about 7 p.m. He was approached by the women, 34 and 37, both of Fairdealing, which is southwest of Poplar Bluff in Ripley County.
“They claimed to have been held captive by a person who works at a business in the 8300 block of Commercial Boulevard,” Police Chief Ron Weeks said. “They also told the officer that their captor was outside in a vehicle.”
Miller found the vehicle empty, but located a 45-year-old Pevely man attempting to hide in the carwash. Miller arrested him.
Miller, along with Detective Tony Moutray and Sgt. Kyle Weiss of the department, asked the man for permission to search the business, which he gave, Weeks said.
“We conducted the search and found no evidence of anyone being restrained, but we did find 10 to 12 pounds of what appeared to be marijuana,” Weeks said.
Weeks said Tuesday (April 15) the investigation into the women’s allegations is ongoing, but that they are not being cooperative. He said the women originally claimed they were held against their will at locations in Pevely and Arnold and that they were sexually assaulted.
“There’s a lot of unanswered questions,” Weeks said. “We’re not sure what we’re dealing with yet. We’ve got some investigating to do.”
The man was released pending an application for warrants on the marijuana charge. He will not be identified unless charges are filed.