The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published August 16, 2017

Man arrested for drugs, pipe bomb

CAMDEN COUNTY – A Camdenton man has found himself behind bars after a traffic stop uncovered what police say are illegal drugs and a pipe bomb.

Last Thursday at approximately 3:00 a.m., a Camden County Sheriff’s Department (CCSD) Deputy observed a tan 1998 Nissan Altima fail to stop at an intersection at State Road D and Tunnel Dam Road.

As the deputy attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver failed to stop and began traveling at a high rate of speed, striking a mailbox at a residence on D Road, a CCSD spokesman said.

The deputy executed the stop and the driver, Joshua D. Crooks, 31, of Camdenton, was arrested for driving on a suspended license.

While searching the vehicle, the deputy discovered a scale and a white crystalline substance. As the deputy continued his search of the vehicle, he discovered what appeared to the deputy to be an explosive device.

The deputy backed away from the vehicle and the Missouri State Highway Patrol Bomb Squad was contacted.

The CCSD stated that the device was a pipe bomb and was rendered safe by the bomb squad.

The subject was taken into custody and is being held at the Camden County Adult Detention Center.

Crooks was charged with class A misdemeanor of operating a motor vehicle without a license, class D felony of possession of controlled substance $500,000 surety bond, class E felony of resisting arrest, class D felony of possession and transport of a weapon and a class D misdemeanor of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.