A Texas County man was arrested Saturday night after a single‑vehicle crash led troopers to discover a firearm, syringes, and suspected methamphetamine, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol probable cause statement.
Troopers were dispatched around 9:42 p.m. to Route AT near Buffalo Road, where the reporting party said the driver had fled the crashed vehicle and was acting suspicious. According to the statement, “Officer Mendenhall observed a male removing items from the vehicle… and due to his behavior, detained him until my arrival.” The man was identified as Lukas‑Michael J. Sellars.
Sellars told officers he had a firearm on his person, which was secured at the scene. Troopers also reported finding used syringes in both pockets of his coat. Sellars admitted to using methamphetamine the day before and showed troopers an injection site on his arm.
Investigators say Sellars fell asleep while driving, causing his vehicle to leave the roadway, destroy an InterCounty Electric pole, and strike a fence before coming to rest. A search of a backpack near the vehicle uncovered additional syringes containing blood and suspected methamphetamine. The statement notes, “Sellars had possessed a Kimber 9mm handgun… [and] the syringes contained blood and believed trace amounts of methamphetamine.”
Sellars was arrested at 10:37 p.m. for felony weapon and drug offenses and transported to the Texas County Jail. Evidence has been submitted to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Lab for analysis. The incident was recorded on video.
