A De Soto man has been formally charged with several felonies after he allegedly was found with five pounds of methamphetamine after trying to elude law enforcement on a motorcycle which resulted in a traffic accident earlier this year in Cooper County.
A probable-cause statement says a Missouri State Highway trooper conducted a traffic stop on a motorcycle for speeding at the intersection of Missouri Highway 5 and I-70 on March 28. Reportedly, 56-year-old Frank Stogsdill initially turned off the motorcycle, but restarted the engine and sped off at a high rate of speed as the trooper left his vehicle.
During the pursuit on Highway 5, Stogsdill reportedly was noticed to be traveling at 95 miles per hour and ran off the roadway after failing to negotiate a curve near Route E. Stogsdill sustained serious injuries and was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital for treatment. Troopers conducted a search of the traffic-accident area, where they reportedly found a total of five pounds of methamphetamine in two containers, a pill bottle with various unknown pills and a loaded handgun.
Online court documents say Stogsdill has been charged with a Class A Felony for Trafficking Drugs in the Second Degree; a Class D Felony for Possession of a Controlled Substance; and Class E Felonies for Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Resisting Arrest by Fleeing. Bond has been set at $100,000 cash or surety.
An initial hearing for Stogsdill is pending at Cooper County Circuit Court.