Sheriff Scott Keeler reported deputies made four warrant arrests and took reports of shoplifting and burglary during the week March 27-April 3, 2017.

Shoplifting complaint at
Dollar General in
Appleton City

            On April 2, a St. Clair County deputy took a shoplifting complaint from an employee at Dollar General, Appleton City. The employee reported an unknown white male, possibly in his thirties, wearing a dark colored baseball hat, dark colored shirt, and dark colored zip up jacket entered the store with an empty plastic bag. He wandered around the store for a few minutes picking up various items and placing them in the bag. Items included a black wallet, Tide detergent pods, a cell phone power bank, and a cell phone charger. There was also another unknown item placed in the bag.

A photo of the suspect from security footage. Those with any information  concerning his identity are urged to  contact the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office Tip Line 417-646-5832.

            A short time later the individual brought the bag up to the cash register and stated he wanted to return the items inside his bag. The cashier told the individual he did not have the items in the bag when he entered the store. The man insisted they were and advised employees to look up security footage to prove his story.

            The items were left near the register and the video footage was checked. The video allegedly showed the man pull an empty plastic Dollar General bag from a rack and enter the store with the bag in his pocket. It showed the man take items off the shelf and place them into the bag before proceeding to the register.

            While employees were viewing the video, the man went back to the counter, pulled the bag from his jacket pocket, filled it with the same items, and walked out of the store without paying for any of the items. A request for prosecution was signed and the value of the items was estimated at $50.

Burglary report taken on SW 871 Road

            On March 30, St. Clair County deputies took a burglary report on SW 871 Road, El Dorado Springs.  A neighbor reported the owner of the property is Mae Miller and he keeps an eye on her property. It was noted a refrigerator was missing and there was a broken grill lying in the ditch. The total value of the items was estimated at $429.

            These cases are currently under investigation. Sheriff Keeler urges those with any related information to these cases or any others to contact the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line, 417-646-5832, or email to tips@scsomo.org.

Warrant arrests

Curtice Alderman

           Curtice Alderman- On April 3, Curtice Alderman, 35, Springfield, was arrested at the St. Clair County Courthouse on a no bond parole violation warrant. Alderman was on parole for an original class B felony charge of robbery-second degree from Platte County in 2007.

            Alderman was in St. Clair County Court for an appearance on charges stemming from an investigation on Feb.25 when he failing to yield to Osceola Police Department on Highway 13. St. Clair County deputies joined in the chase on B Highway where speeds were noted in excess of 110 miles per hour. The vehicle entered Bates County, turned north on P Highway into a driveway, and into a dirt field.  When the vehicle came to a stop the driver, Alderman, got out and ran east though the field.  Deputies pursued him into the field and took him into custody approximately 100 yards from his vehicle. A 15-year old female juvenile was identified as a passenger in the vehicle. Alderman is charged with class D felony endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk- first degree, class E felony resisting arrest by fleeing- creating a substantial risk of serious injury/death to any person, class D misdemeanor driving while suspended, and class B misdemeanor operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner.

            During the court appearance a jury trial was scheduled in the case for March 13, 2018 with a pre trial conference scheduled for Dec. 4, 2017.        

Taha Merghani

           Taha Merghani- On March 30, Taha Merghani, 23, Jackson, Miss., was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant charging him with class A misdemeanor resisting arrest, and class B misdemeanor exceeding posted speed limit by 26 miles per hour or more. Bond is set at $5,000 cash only.

            The charges stem from a St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office investigation during the late night hours on March 28 when a deputy observed a vehicle traveling north on Highway 13 approaching Highway TT. The vehicle appeared to be traveling at a high rate of speed. A check with indicated the vehicle was traveling at 101 miles per hour in a 65 mile per hour zone. 

            A traffic stop was conducted and Merghani stated his reason for speeding was he was trying to get to a conference in Kansas City.  The deputy started to issue Merghani a citation for careless and imprudent driving and he refused to sign the citation.  He was informed if he did not sign the citation then he would be arrested and taken to jail to assure his appearance for court.        Merghani still refused to sign.  The deputy attempted to place him under arrest and Merghani tried to pull away, fell to the ground, and continued to pull away.  He stood up and continued to try and get away.  The deputy and an Osceola Police Department officer assisted him to the ground where he continued to try and get up.  They were able to get Merghani into custody and he was transported to the St. Clair County Jail.    

Michael Helm

         Michael Helm- On March 29, Michael Helm, 32, El Dorado Springs, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant for failing to appear in court on an original class B felony burglary-first degree. Bond is set at $10,000 cash only. Helm was also arrested on a no bond parole violation warrant on an original charge of driving while revoked from Jasper County.

            Keri Wright- On March 28, Keri Wright, 23, Appleton City, was arrested on two St. Clair County warrants for failing to appear in court on ordinance violations of no registration and

Keri Wright

driving while revoked. The warrants were issued on March 20 and stem from an Appleton City Police Department investigation in June 2016. Bond is set at $455.50.

            Disclaimer: Arrest records are public information. Any indication of an arrest does not mean the individual identified has been convicted of a crime. All persons arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.  

Warrant issued

            Brandon Vanblaricon-On March 30, a St. Clair County warrant was issued for Brandon Vanblaricon, 37, Clinton, charging him with class C felony possession of a controlled substance and class A misdemeanor unlawful possession of an illegal weapon. Bond is set at $20,000 cash or surety. The charges stem from a St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office investigation on Nov. 28, 2016 when deputies were dispatched to Countyside Trading Post, Osceola, in reference to a male subject passed out over the steering wheel of his vehicle. The vehicle was at the gas pumps and had been there for approximately one hour.

            When the deputies arrived on scene contact was made with Vanblaricon, who was in the driver’s seat. During the investigation a set of brass knuckles and a plastic bag containing a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine were located in his possession.

            Vanblaricon is currently in custody of Missouri Department of Corrections serving another sentence from another jurisdiction.