Search warrant at Belle residence leads to three arrests

By Neal A. Johnson, UD Editor
Posted 5/6/21

Melonie D. Breeden, 40, and Ronald Stubblefield, 65, of Belle, were arrested as part of a drug operation on Tuesday of last week at Belle, and Jeremy Basham, 48, of Koeltztown, was arrested on …

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Search warrant at Belle residence leads to three arrests

Posted

Melonie D. Breeden, 40, and Ronald Stubblefield, 65, of Belle, were arrested as part of a drug operation on Tuesday of last week at Belle, and Jeremy Basham, 48, of Koeltztown, was arrested on outstanding warrants after fleeing the scene.

Members of the Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force (MMDTF) and Osage County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant for 58 acres covering several addresses on Branson Lane.

“We received info about drugs being sold to individuals, along with a stolen vehicle and other stolen property,” said Sheriff Mike Bonham. “We were told there might be as many as 18 people involved so we made sure there was plenty of help. We want to thank Miller County deputies, the Highway Patrol, and the Department of Conservation for their help in executing this search.”

MMDTF officers were also searching for Rodney Wood, who was wanted on an outstanding charge of manslaughter. He was not located during this search and Bonham said it was unclear why he was in Osage County.

When turning on CR 705, deputies encountered a black SUV with what was believed to be occupied only by the driver. He saw deputies and turned around on the road.

“We couldn’t pursue that situation right then,” said Bonham. “We proceeded to execute our search warrant.”

At the time of the search warrant, Breeden was located behind her residence at 408 Branson Lane.

She walked around the building to the approaching deputies, and when officers walked around the building to where she had been, two purses were located that had been thrown down in what appeared to be an attempt to hide them, according to court documents.

Breeden would not admit to having the purses but did admit to owning a purse. However, she was unable to show officers where her purse was located and admitted to living at the residence.

Located in one of the purses found was a bag of white powder that field-tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine 

Stubblefield, meanwhile, was located in front of his residence at 382 Branson Lane.

When asked if he had any weapons or anything illegal, Stubblefield admitted to having a pipe in his pocket, according to the probable cause statement filed by MMDTF.

Stubblefield also said he had illegal items in his home, and gave officers consent to search.

Stubblefield pointed out a baggie of crystal powder that weight approximately two grams. He told officers the powder was his and that it was methamphetamine. Stubblefield further admitted the glass pipe on his person was a meth pipe.

Also during a search of the home, officers found three firearms, two .22 rifles and a 20-gauge shotgun.

After clearing the buildings, deputies turned their attention to the SUV.

“We didn’t see any tracks leading away from the vehicle but saw tracks going toward the Gasconade River,” said Bonham. 

When questioned, those at the scene said the vehicle had been sitting all day, which Bonham said deputies knew to be untrue.

Law enforcement officers were on the scene for about five hours processing evidence and completing the search.

Later in the evening, Bonham said a call for a suspicious person on CR 703 was received.

This individual, Basham, was wet and Bonham believed him to have fled the scene and jumped into the river. He was arrested without incident on two warrants out of Gasconade County for speeding and driving while revoked or suspended, and one out of Osage County for non-support. Basham is being held at the Osage County Detention Center.

Breeden has been charged with possession of a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana/synthetic cannabinoid and her bond is set at $5,000.

Bonham said two children were removed from the home of one resident in the area and placed in the custody of the Division of Family Services.