Car stop ends in drug Arrest in Clinton

Gavin Beach

On the evening of Sunday, February 25th, at approximately 10:49 P.M., Clinton Police Officer Derek Foreman observed a silver Cadillac Deville fail to stop for a stop sign at Third and Ohio Street. Officer Foreman stopped the vehicle in the 400 block of South Third Street. 

Upon stopping, the driver of the vehicle, later identified as 34 year old Clinton resident Gavin Beach, exited the vehicle and began running away from Officer Foreman, who did not pursue at the time, but advised other responding officers of Beach’s description and direction of travel. Officer Foreman then contacted the only passenger in the vehicle, 27 year old Ashley Lasley of Clinton. 

Ashley Lasley

Officer Foreman asked Lasley why Beach ran away and she said it was because he might have outstanding warrants for his arrest. Officer Foreman then checked and Beach did indeed have active warrants out of Henry County. Lasley gave Officer Foreman consent to search the vehicle and also surrendered a pipe from her purse. 

The pipe was a pipe that is commonly used to smoke methamphetamine with and contained residue. A search of the vehicle yielded drug paraphernalia including syringes and scales along with packaged methamphetamine. 

A short time later, Beach was located in the area of Truman Avenue and was placed under arrest for the warrants and the drugs in his vehicle. He was transported to the Henry County Detention Center where he was incarcerated with a $6,000 bond. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, resisting arrest and Henry County, Missouri Warrants. Lasley was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and released on her own recognizance.