Fredericktown Man Arrested After Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Discovery

St. Francois Co., Mo. (KFMO) - St. Francois County Sheriff Jeff Crites is addressing questions following the arrest and release of a Fredericktown man after a traffic stop early Thursday morning.

Deputies say 22-year-old Jeffrey M. Wilson was pulled over on U.S. Highway 67 near Leadington around 1:45 a.m. Thursday for reckless driving. A K-9 unit alerted to narcotics, and a search revealed approximately 20 grams of suspected methamphetamine. Wilson was arrested on suspicion of drug and traffic violations.

Sheriff Crites says there has been confusion about booking and release procedures in the case. He explained that the evidence collected has only undergone a preliminary field test, which is not certified or admissible in court. Formal lab analysis is required before charges can move forward, and the current backlog means the process may take up to 120 days.

By law, a warrant must be issued within 24 hours of booking, or the individual must be released. Because that requirement could not be met without certified lab results, Wilson was released. Crites added the decision also aligns with bond reform policies that prioritize fairness in non-violent cases.

“I remain fully committed to the legal process and confident that once certified results are returned, the facts will speak for themselves,” Crites said.