AUTHORITIES IN PORTAGEVILLE INVESTIGATING ASSAULT 

A Southeast Missouri Police Department is asking local residents for assistance in an assault investigation.  

The Portageville Police Department is investigating an assault that reportedly occurred Monday morning at around 11 am in the area of the 900 block of West State Highway 162.  

Police officials are asking for any resident that has a surveillance camera on their home on St. Anthony or Robin Lane to contact the police department. Officials are also seeking any possible witnesses to this incident. 

If you have any information in connection to the incident, contact the Portageville Police Department at 573-379-5500.

MAN ARRESTED FOLLOWING POPLAR BLUFF SHOOTING PLEADS NOT GUILTY 

A man appeared in court yesterday in connection to the shooting of a Poplar Bluff officer.  

28 year old James Johnson Jr., of Poplar Bluff, was arrested last Thursday after a Poplar Bluff Police Detective and a Task Force Officer with the US Marshals Service were shot while attempting to make an arrest for an active warrant.  

The detective received a non-life threatening wound and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. The Task Force Officer was struck in his body armor, but had no additional injuries. 

According to Missouri Case Net, Johnson is facing charges of assault 1st degree, resisting or interfering with an arrest for a felony, and armed criminal action.   

Johnson’s arraignment was scheduled for yesterday and he pled not guilty.

MAN DROWNS WHILE SWIMMING IN WAPPAPELLO LAKE 

An area man died over the weekend while swimming in Wappapello Lake.  

Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that 59 year old Randall Scott, of Wappapello, became fatigued while swimming on Saturday, went under the water, and never resurfaced.  

A search was conducted and Scott’s body was found on Sunday.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN KILLED IN WRECK IN BUTLER COUNTY 

A Poplar Bluff man was found dead Monday at the scene of a wreck in Butler County.  

According to Butler County Coroner Andy Moore, on the evening of July 9th a vehicle accident related to a reported stolen truck was discovered near Neelyville. Upon investigation a single occupant was found deceased within the vehicle. 

The occupant has been identified as 40 year old Dwayne Young.  

Moore says Young was an acquaintance of the owner of the truck that was reported stolen. The owner stated that Young had been at her residence in the days leading up to the stolen vehicle report.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN FACING METHAMPHETAMINE CHARGE FOLLOWING ARREST IN BUTLER COUNTY 

Authorities in Butler County have arrested a Poplar Bluff man on a felony drug charge.  

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 31 year old Carl Hiles was taken into custody Saturday night on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine.  

Hiles is also facing charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while suspended. Following the arrest, he was held at the Butler County Jail.

TEENAGER DROWNS AFTER JUMPING OFF EMBANKMENT IN MADISON COUNTY 

A Missouri teenager reportedly drowned Wednesday in Southeast Missouri.  

According to authorities in Madison County, 19 year old Cole Duffell, of Chesterfield, jumped off an embankment, resurfaced for a short period of time, went back under the surface of the water, and did not reappear.  

The incident occurred at around 1:45 pm at Offset Quarry, two miles north of Fredericktown.  

Duffell’s body was taken to the Madison County Coroner’s Office.

POPLAR BLUFF POLICE ASKING FOR PUBLIC’S HELP IN LOCATING NON-COMPLIANT SEX OFFENDER 

Authorities in Poplar Bluff are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a non-compliant sex offender.

According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, 37 year old Michael Owen, of Poplar Bluff, is listed on the Missouri State Highway Patrol Sex Offender website as a non-compliant sex offender.  

Owen has reportedly moved from his registered address without reporting his new address to the Butler County Sheriff's Office.

We have a picture of Owen available on the KWOC Facebook page.  

Anyone with information on Owen’s whereabouts is asked to contact Captain David Sutton at 573-686-8649.

INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY FOLLOWING HOMICIDE IN STODDARD COUNTY 

A homicide investigation is underway in Stoddard County.  

Few details about the incident are available, other than it occurred on Mulberry Street in Dexter.  

We will keep following this story for you and bring you more information as it becomes available.

STORM KNOCKS DOWN TREES AND HEAVILY DAMAGES BUILDING IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 

Thunderstorms crossed the area on Tuesday causing numerous trees to be knocked down as well as heavy damage to a structure in Stoddard County.  

According to the National Weather Service, multiple counties reported trees being down including an incident near Harviell, in Butler County, where multiple trees were down, blocking highway 158. Power outages were also reported in multiple areas, including Wayne and Northern Stoddard County.  

In Dexter, a concrete storage shed was also heavily damaged on North Park Lane.  

Weather officials say that wind gusts of 58 miles per hour were reported at the Poplar Bluff Airport shortly before 7 pm.