POPLAR BLUFF MAN IN CUSTODY FOR ALLEGEDLY DRIVING TO ARKANSAS TO HAVE SEX WITH A CHILD
Authorities in Central Arkansas say that a Poplar Bluff man has been arrested for allegedly driving over 100 miles to meet a 15 year old child for sex.
According to the Arkansas First Judicial District Judge Task Force, 25 year old Keegan Tatsch was in custody in the Cross County Jail.
Tatsch allegedly sent sexually explicit messages and a photo to what he believed was an underage child.
Tatsch told the child that he would spend the weekend with her in the absence of her family who was allegedly on vacation. When Tatsch arrived to meet the child, he was taken into custody by investigators. Authorities found a bag packed with two changes of clothes, multiple condoms, and a hygiene kit in Tatsch’s vehicle.
Officials say Tatsch has been charged by the First Judicial District Drug Task Force with felony Internet Stalking of a Child and will have his first appearance today in Cross County District Court. His bond was set at $50,000, cash only.
Tatsch was recently charged in an unrelated case in Craighead County with “interference with custody” after a missing 16 year old high school student was recovered at Tatsch’s residence. Tatsch’s vehicle was allegedly seen on video picking up the student from her high school after the two began talking online.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE WARRANTS IN STODDARD COUNTY
Authorities in Stoddard County have arrested a Poplar Bluff man on multiple warrants.
Officials with the Stoddard County Sheriff’s Department tell KWOC News that 29 year old Matthew Carter was recently arrested on a felony warrant for a parole violation, a felony warrant for two counts of forgery from Ripley County, and a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear out of Poplar Bluff.
A $20,000 bond was set for the forgery warrant, a $236 bond was set on the failure to appear warrant, and no bond has been set for the parole violation warrant.
EARTHQUAKE SHAKES PARTS OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Did you feel the earthquake that hit Southeast Missouri on Friday?
According to the United States Geographical Survey, a magnitude 2.9 quake was recorded at 10:27 pm Friday night between Lilbourn and Marston.
Officials say the earthquake had a depth of over seven miles.
THREE ARRESTED IN BUTLER COUNTY
Three people were taken into custody Saturday afternoon in Butler County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 34 year old Clayton Ross, of Fremont, 25 year old Rachel Huddleston, of Imperial, and 18 year old Hunter Vest, of Ellsinore, were all arrested at around 1 pm Saturday.
Officials say Ross was arrested on charges including possession of a controlled substance - methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Vest is facing charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.
Huddleston was taken into custody on a felony Butler County warrant for possession of heroin and a felony Collinsville, Illinois warrant for shoplifting.
Officials did not specify if the three arrests were connected.
ONE DEAD AFTER FARM IMPLEMENT STRIKES VEHICLE
One woman was killed in a wreck involving a farm implement on Friday.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the farm implement struck the side of a vehicle Friday afternoon on Route Y, west of Sikeston. The second vehicle then overturned.
A passenger in the second vehicle, identified as 39 year old Julia Moreland, of Sikeston, was pronounced dead at the scene. No injuries were listed for the driver of either vehicle.
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY TASK FORCE ANNOUNCED FOR NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Multiple communities in Northeast Arkansas will be taking part in a new criminal activity task force that was announced last week.
Scott Ellington, Prosecuting Attorney for the Second Judicial District of Arkansas, has announced the creation of the Second Judicial District Organized Criminal Activity Task Force.
Ellington says the task force’s mission is to identify and target for prosecution criminal enterprise groups whose activities include drug trafficking, arms trafficking and possession, crimes of violence such as murder and aggravated assault, robbery, and violent street gangs, as well as to intensely focus on the apprehension of dangerous fugitives.
The task force is comprised of law enforcement officials from numerous agencies in Northeast Arkansas including the Paragould Police Department, the Jonesboro Police Department, and the Arkansas Department of Community Corrections.
