Drug arrest

By Pat Burton, LPD Chief of Police

LICKING, Mo. (June 13, 2023) – On June 2, 2023, Licking Police Officers conducted a traffic stop on a 1999 Ford Mustang, operated by Justin Christopher, for a license violation. During the course of the traffic stop, the Houston Police Department’s K9 Unit was requested and responded to conduct a free air sniff of the suspect’s vehicle. Upon arrival, the K9 gave a positive alert for the presence of narcotics and a hands-on search was conducted of the interior of the vehicle, where numerous items of illegal drug paraphernalia were located and seized.

After radio communication with the Texas County 911 dispatch, the officer was advised Christopher’s Missouri driver’s license were suspended. It was also verified that the vehicle licenses attached to the vehicle were registered to another vehicle and the vehicle in question had not been registered.

The seized items will be sent to the Missouri State Highway Patrol for analysis. A Probable Cause Statement has been sent to the Texas County Prosecutor’s Office seeking the following charges:

Justin Preston Christopher, age 29, of Summersville, Mo. – Possession of a Controlled Substance, Class D Felony; Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Prior Drug Offense, Class A Misdemeanor; Failure to Register Motor Vehicle, Class B Misdemeanor; Driving While Suspended 1st Offense, Class D Misdemeanor; Operate a Motor Vehicle without Financial Responsibility, Class D Misdemeanor; and Displaying Plates of Another Vehicle, Infraction.

The Licking Police Department would like to thank the Houston Police Department and Texas County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance in this investigation.

The above information is just mere accusations and is not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of any charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.