A sheriff’s deputy arrested a man in possession of methamphetamines and ecstasy Thursday behind the McDonald’s located at 1012 Smiley Lane. He also had an active warrant for a parole violation.
Boone County Sheriff’s Department Detective Tom O’Sullivan said deputies observed strange behavior from Boone County resident Ralph Carter before arresting him. The officers became suspicious when the vehicle they were following in their patrol car quickly pulled into a Break Time parking lot.
“Mr. Carter immediately gets out of the vehicle and walks to McDonald’s,” he said. “A little while later, Mr. Carter comes out of the McDonald’s and notices the cop car. And then he began walking over toward where the dumpsters were at McDonald’s.”
Deputies made contact with Carter behind a fence near the restaurant’s dumpsters. O’Sullivan said upon investigating Carter and the surrounding area, they found meth and ecstasy, probably packaged for sale.
On top of his probation and parole violation, Carter will be facing additional charges for possession of a controlled substance.
“On a parole violation you don’t get any bond,” O’Sullivan said.
Carter has a history of substance abuse arrests. His original parole was for an aggravated driving while intoxicated charge.
O’Sullivan said meth use is the most prevalent drug problem in Missouri. According to statistics from the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s website, nearly 2,000 meth incidents were reported last year.
“I’ve been a cop for 23 years, and weed is the least of our problems,” O’Sullivan said. “We don’t necessarily go looking for people at their house smoking weed and watching cartoons. We go looking around for people smoking meth.”
O’Sullivan added the dangerous substances in meth, such as Drano and battery acid, made meth use more confusing.
“How do you know not to stay away from meth?” O’Sullivan said. “It’s like not knowing what a red light means. Meth makers are like rats making their own poison.”