Four people were arrested Monday evening following a high-speed chase over roughly seven miles of county roads that culminated with the crash of the suspect, damage to a sheriff’s vehicle, and the seizure of two kilos (4.4) pounds of methamphetamine.

Sheriff Mike Bonham noted that several vacuum-sealed cans were recovered after the chase, all of which were used to conceal the meth. 

“Most of the cans would require a can-opener but two of them had a pull top, and during the chase, the suspects opened them and were throwing bags of meth out of the car as they fled,” said Bonham. “We believe we have recovered all of the cans and bags that were tossed out. This is one of the biggest drug busts we’ve ever had in Osage County.”

According to Bonham, the MUSTANG drug task force received a tip regarding drugs at an apartment on Twin Ridge. Members of the Mid Missouri Drug Task Force (MMDTF), MUSTANG, and the Osage County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search of the apartment shared by Paul Parker, 44, and Carla Hemlin, 39, and it was learned that a large shipment of drugs was coming into Linn.

Officers staked out the area and waited. At about 6:30 p.m. Monday, Krista Huddleston, 28, of Florence, and Matt White, 30, listed as homeless, approached the apartment and deputies initiated a traffic stop. That’s when Huddleston fled, leading deputies on a dangerous chase on gravel roads.

The pursuit finally came to an end at the junction of CRs 302 and 304 when the suspect vehicle crashed into a sheriff’s vehicle and went into a ditch.

All four suspects were arrested and Bonham is seeking charges of possession of a controlled substance against Parker and Hemlin. 

White and Huddleston have been indicted on federal charges of possession of a controlled substance.

Huddleston is being held at the Osage County Jail while White was injured during the chase and after on-scene evaluation, was sent to the Miller County Jail because the local jail was full.

Parker is being held on $25,000 bond and Hemlin was released pending charges.