S.W.A.T. Team Raids Newark Home After Drug and Gun Investigation – VIDEO

Dozens of law enforcement officers descended on a residence tucked into the woods in the quiet rural town of Newark, Missouri, on Tuesday, June 5, 2018.

Investigators and law enforcement officials are remaining tight lipped about what lead the Missouri State Highway Patrol Special Weapons and Tactics Team (S.W.A.T.), North Missouri Drug Task Force (NMDTF), Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the West Central Illinois Drug Task Force’s execution of a search warrant on the home of Glenn L., 50, and Michele L. Randall, 48, a husband and wife who have owned property in Knox County for nearly two decades.

According to court documents, the search warrant was obtained based on information collected during an ongoing narcotics and firearm investigation. A representative of the MSHP could not confirm or deny whether that information was obtained from a confidential informant by investigators, only that the MSHP Division of Drug and Crime Control is the leading the investigation.

Law enforcement officers surrounded the Randall home early Tuesday at 205 West Angus Street just a few blocks north of the Newark Town Square off State Highway KK.

The home is located at the end of a gravel road heavily encroached on by woods.

When law enforcement surrounded the residence and announced themselves, Michele Randall allegedly exited the home and was immediately taken into custody without incident. Glenn Randall allegedly exited the home and went back inside for a short period of time before coming back outside and being taken into custody, according to the Probable Cause Statement filed in the case.

It is unclear what exactly the S.W.A.T. Team and investigators expected to find during the search of the Randall residence, which yielded very little for the amount of manpower put into executing that warrant.

The search yielded “several rounds of various types of ammunition throughout the residence” and a loaded Ruger LCP 380 handgun was allegedly found in the purse of Michele Randall, which was located in the master bedroom. Two glass methamphetamine pipes and a plastic baggie containing residue, which field tested positive for meth, were allegedly found in the master bathroom. Two marijuana pipes were allegedly found in the kitchen. And, two more meth pipes were allegedly found in a red shed on the property.

The Randall’s allegedly told police about the handgun and that it belonged to Michele Randall.

The couple was taken to the Clark County Jail and placed on a 24-hour hold pending formal charges.

On Wednesday morning, June 6, the Knox County Prosecutor filed three charges against Glenn Randall including unlawful possession of a firearm, a Class D felony, one count of possession of a controlled substance (meth), a Class D felony, and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held on a $100,000 cash only bond. According to court documents, Glenn Randall was convicted of felony drug possession in Lewis County, Missouri in 1998, which makes it illegal for him to possess a firearm.

Michele Randall is facing two criminal charges including one count of possession of a controlled substance (meth), a Class D felony, and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond has been set at $10,000.

A court date has not been set for either defendant.

According to information published on the MSHP website, MSHP currently has four S.W.A.T. Teams, which are stationed at Troop A, Lee’s Summit; Troop C, St. Louis; Troop D, Springfield; and Troop F, Jefferson City. The teams are trained and equipped to respond to a variety of critical incidents, ranging from hostage situations to high-risk warrant service. The teams are regularly requested by sheriff’s department and police agencies, which lack the personnel and resources to maintain their own unit.

According to a representative on the MSHP, the S.W.A.T. Team that participated in the execution of the search warrant on the Randall residence came from Troop F, Jefferson City, and was comprised of 20 to 25 MSHP team members from Troop F and Troop B.

Two members of the NMDTF also helped execute the search warrant along with at least one representative of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.

KCSO and NMDTF representatives referred all questions to the MSHP. The MSHP representative authorized to speak publicly to the press was unable to divulge more details pertaining to the ongoing investigation.

More information will be released if and when it becomes available.

Criminal charges are merely accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

*Attribute Echo Menges for The Edina Sentinel/Nemonews.net