From the Howell County Sherriff’s Department:
On June 9, 2025, Howell County SWAT responded to neighboring Ozark County to assist the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office with an arrest and search warrant operation. In addition to HCSO SWAT, the United States Marshals Service, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Operation Relentless Pursuit Task Force and West Plains Police Department were on scene and provided assistance.
In recent weeks, information was developed regarding a fugitive with a federal arrest warrant out of Oklahoma for drug related charges. This warrant had been active since 2021. Information revealed the suspect, Joshua Cook had taken extensive measures to prevent discovery and was armed with a firearm.
The Ozark County Sheriff’s Office also obtained a search warrant for a second residence on the same property for suspected narcotics and firearms. This search warrant was served by the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Team (S.E.T.) while Howell County SWAT focused on the residence in which the federal fugitive was reported to be concealed.
During the attempted service of the arrest warrant, Joshua Cook barricaded himself and threatened to shoot law enforcement if they breached the residence and further stated he would force officers to shoot him. Crisis negotiators spoke with Cook and convinced him to surrender.
Cook ultimately surrendered himself without incident and was taken into custody. Cook was handed over to the United States Marshals Service to be transported to a holding facility. Cook will also be facing additional charges in Ozark County as a result of this incident.
Also taken into custody as a result of this operation was Shane Cook. Shane Cook is facing charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) and other charges. Eric McCrackin was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine).
A total of 11 firearms, a substantial amount of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia was seized as a result of the search warrant.
The Howell County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to working in partnership with federal, state and local task forces and partner agencies to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking operations in our region.
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