A Springfield woman was indicted by a federal grand jury for possessing methamphetamine for distribution, following a high-speed police chase in Osage Beach.
Stacy Renae Merrell, 28, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City.
The indictment alleges Merrell was in possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute on Feb. 19. The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Merrell to forfeit to the government any property derived from the proceeds of the alleged offense, including $12,557 that was seized by law enforcement officers.
Merrell was arrested when she refused to stop for an Osage Beach police officer. The officer observed Merrell driving on U.S. 54 near the Grand Glaize Bridge. The officer activated his emergency lights, but Merrell refused to stop and allegedly led police in a pursuit that exceeded 100 miles per hour. Merrell exited 54 at the Missouri 242 exit in Miller County and crashed through a metal gate. Her vehicle went down an embankment and crashed. Merrell ran from the vehicle but fell through a partially frozen pool of water and was completely submerged. Merrell pulled herself out of the water and surrendered to police officers.
During a search of Merrell's vehicle, officers found a large bundle of $100 bills totaling $10,000 in the glove box and two plastic bags containing a total of 244 grams of methamphetamine on the passenger floor board inside a nylon bag.