Three individuals have been arrested and charged after a traffic stop in Pettis County on April 22, 2023.

The Mid Missouri Multi-jurisdictional Drug Task Force and Pettis County Deputies conducted a traffic stop at US HWY 50 and Chevalier Road in reference to an on-going drug investigation.

Pettis County Sergeant and his K9 partner conducted an open air sniff for the odor of narcotics on the vehicle. The K9 positively alerted to the odor of narcotics and a search of the vehicle was conducted. During the search, a small amount of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia were located in the vehicle.

The three occupants of the vehicle, 30-year-old Richard Bain, 31-year-old Kendal Brown, and 26-year-old Laura McCarty, all of Sedalia, were placed into custody. All three occupants of the vehicle were transported to the Pettis County Jail. The suspects’ vehicle was towed from the scene.

Further information was developed which led Pettis County Deputies back to the vehicle which was still being held by the tow company. Another search of the vehicle was conducted which yielded a large amount of narcotics hidden in a hide-away compartment of the vehicle on April 24. The narcotics were seized and transported to the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office for further testing. The narcotics tested positive for Fentanyl. Seized from the vehicle were 1,536 counterfeit M30 Percocet, later identified as Fentanyl, pills weighing approximately 182.63 grams. Similar drugs to these have been linked to numerous drug overdoses in the area.

All three subjects have been charged with first degree trafficking and delivery of a controlled substance.

Photo of Brown (left), Bain (center), and McCarty (right) courtesy of Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders