West Plains, MO. – A West Plains man was arrested on Saturday night on drug and other charges. According to reports from the West Plains Police, the incident began at roughly 10:15 p.m. on Porter Wagoner Boulevard when an officer attempted to stop a black and red vehicle.
After a short pursuit, which is noted in the probable cause statement as the first resist of arrest, the officer pulled over Heath D. Neitzel, age 40, in an alleyway on 1st Street. Neitzel is known to local law enforcement due to a history of narcotics arrests. He was detained after the officer noted his erratic behavior and spotted a .22 rifle in the vehicle.
Police recovered the rifle and located a baggie containing 3.57 grams of field-tested methamphetamine in a search of the area. The rifle was seized due to Neitzel’s prior felony convictions.
Heath Neitzel is charged with possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting arrest by fleeing, and unlawful use of a weapon – subsection 11.
