Marijuana, Growing Supplies and Meth Seized In Knox City Drug Bust – VIDEO, PHOTOS
UPDATE: More information about this case including comments from the Knox County Prosecutor, Sheriff and a more detailed description about what led to Lasher’s arrest will be released in the February 3, 2016 edition of The Edina Sentinel.
Original Story Below
According to court documents, on Monday evening, January 25, 2016, at 7:45 p.m. James F. Lasher, 53, was arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and a search warrant was issued by Knox County Associate Circuit Judge Tom Redington, which allowed a search of Lasher’s residence for controlled substances.
That search warrant was served the same day at 10:25 p.m. at 209 North McCoy Street in Knox City, MO.
Members of the North Missouri Drug Task Force (NMDT), the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) descended on the residence and found a large amount of marijuana and items used to grow marijuana. Methamphetamine was also found at the residence.
Six bags and 10 jars of marijuana were discovered in the kitchen of the residence along with various items used to smoke marijuana.
A bag of methamphetamine was found in a bedroom of the residence, along with bags of marijuana seeds.
In the basement of the residence, a marijuana cultivation cache was discovered including 14 boxes of grow lights, a dry erase board with notes on it documenting the times marijuana plants had been watered and cloned, a hydrologic (hydroponic) water purification system, several fans, extension cords, soil tester and timer.
More jars of marijuana were also found in the basement with names on them like Strawberry Cheesecake, Liberty Haze and Blueberry Kush.
On the back porch of the residence eight large bags of Miracle Grow potting soil were found.
On Tuesday, January 26, 2016, another search warrant was served on the Lasher’s mechanic shop, which is located on the northeast corner of East Main and McCoy North Wade Streets in Knox City.
More items were seized including a number of glass jars containing marijuana.
Lasher is facing three felony charges including manufacturing marijuana, possession of meth and possession of marijuana, and one misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
He is being held at the Lewis County Jail on a $25,000 cash only bond.
Lasher is scheduled to appear in Knox County court before Judge Redington on February 9, 2016.
According to Knox County Sheriff Allen Gudehus, NMDT, MSHP, KCSO and the Edina Police Department assisted in the investigation.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation. James Lasher is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
