Casin Roy Avery of Owensville was charged Sunday, April 12, with the class D felony of possession of a controlled substance, class A misdemeanor resisting arrest and class D misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the probable cause statement by the Gasconade County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO), at approximately 9:44 a.m., dispatch notified the agency of a suspicious person reportedly looking into vehicles on Highway 50 and trying to open them.

GCSO reported observing a male who matched the description and recognized him from prior contact before conducting a records check to verify his driver’s status.

The officer stated that Avery appeared “extremely nervous and jittery,” and was a known user of methamphetamine based on prior interactions.

For officer safety, GCSO reports conducting a Terry frisk of Avery’s person in which a knife was located in his front pocket and his voluntary admission that he had another knife before allegedly handing the officer a red cloth bag in which a broken glass stem — commonly used for methamphetamine — was observed. The officer also reported noticing Avery clenching something in his hand and a physical struggle ensuing as the officer attempted to open his hand in which a bystander assisted in taking Avery to the ground with the officer finally able to open his hand and reportedly locating a baggie of a crystal-like substance that along with residue found in the glass pipe field tested positive for methamphetamine.

A warrant was issued with bond set at $25,000 cash or surety and Avery was taken into custody at the Franklin County Detention Center.

The following day, a motion for bond increase was requested by Prosecuting Attorney Mary Weston for Avery reportedly attempting to escape his cell after being told his bond amount.

“I am requesting that a high cash bond be imposed to keep previous victims and the community safe,” Weston said in the motion.

Avery’s bond was converted to $25,000 cash on April 13 with special conditions including weapons and alcohol prohibitions. Arraignment was scheduled for today (April 15) at 9 a.m. with Judge Ada Brehe-Krueger presiding in Gasconade County.