Two Arrested After Trailer Theft Leads to Endangerment and Drug Charges
This article is compiled from reports issued by the Pettis County Sheriff's Office.
On Thursday, October 28, Pettis County Sheriff's Deputies conducted follow-up investigation after an arrest about a possible stolen vehicle report. The Pettis County K9 Unit also received information regarding a vehicle in the area west of La Monte.
A short time later, Deputies located a vehicle fitting the description of the possibly stolen vehicle and a trailer attached to the vehicle. After running the VIN from the vehicle and the trailer, neither came back as stolen. The Pettis County Sheriff's Office contacted the Johnson County Sheriff's Office to see if they could send a Deputy to the owner's residence to see if he knew where the vehicle and trailer were located.
A short time later, the Johnson County Sheriff's Office advised that the Knob Noster Police Department was taking a stolen vehicle report for both the vehicle and the trailer. During this time, a second vehicle pulled up to the stolen vehicles. As Deputies and the K9 Unit pulled up on the suspect vehicle, the suspects were identified as Christopher "Joey" Miller and Rachel M. Esser.
Miller was arrested for Tampering With a Motor Vehicle and Esser was arrested for outstanding Benton County warrants. During this investigation, a search warrant was issued for Esser's residence.
During the search of the residence, two juvenile children were located in the home alone. During the search of the residence, a small amount of a crystal substance, digital scales, drug paraphernalia, and items consistent with someone distributing drugs from the residence were found.
As Deputies and Detectives from the Mid Missouri Drug Task Force were finishing the investigation, they learned of a second stolen vehicle located in the Higginsville area.
At this time, Deputies located a vehicle fitting the description of the vehicle and ran the VIN. The vehicle was reported stolen out of Marshall.
The Pettis County Sheriff's Office is requesting charges of:
Christopher "Joey" Miller - Tampering With a Motor Vehicle in the 2nd Degree and Tampering With a Motor Vehicle in the 1st Degree.
Rachel Esser - Possession of a Controlled Substance, two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Tampering With a Motor Vehicle in the 2nd Degree.