Three people were arrested during two drug busts over Memorial Day weekend in Moniteau County.
Deputies were dispatched Saturday to a report of trespassing on Rock House Road, according to Moniteau County Sheriff's Department reports. One deputy saw a man and a woman get out of the vehicle near a creek. The man fled into nearby woods when he saw the deputy, going toward Cole County.
Deputies called for a K-9 unit to search the area. They also searched the vehicle and found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
A short time later, the man who had fled, later identified as a Justen Bigler, 28, of California, was located on a gravel road in Cole County. Deputies also learned Bigler had outstanding felony warrants for his arrest. He was taken into custody for possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, tampering with a motor vehicle and endangering the welfare of a child.
The woman, identified as Amanda Porter, 34, of Barnett, also was taken into custody for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
On Sunday, deputies attempted to stop a vehicle on U.S. 50 just west of California for a moving violation. The vehicle then accelerated and refused to stop for the deputies who continued to pursue the vehicle onto Missouri 87, heading south. The vehicle then turned into a field and continued to flee.
Deputies located the vehicle parked in the wood line approximately 2 miles off the highway in a field. A short time later, deputies spotted the driver, identified as Travis Rowe, 42, of Macon, walking in California. Rowe fled on foot in the south eastern part of town but eventually was taken into custody.
Deputies also learned Rowe had an outstanding felony warrant out of Macon County for manufacturing methamphetamines with a bond of $50,000, cash only. Further charges out of Moniteau County for the vehicle pursuit and resisting arrest are pending.