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Several Arrests following Search Warrant at School-Adjacent House

Several weeks of investigation by the Willow Springs Police Department culminated in the execution of a search warrant at a house in the 400 block of West Fourth St. in Willow Springs last Friday. 
“The house has been on our radar. We have been investigating, watching, and gathering information for a search warrant,” WSPD Police Chief Bryan Hogan told Howell County News, “People have rights, and we can’t just kick doors in. It takes a while to develop.”
On April 9 at approximately 9:00 p.m., officers from WSPD, Howell County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop G, and the South Central Drug Task Force converged on a home in plain view of the pre-K playground to serve a search warrant. 
Police seized dozens of items of drug paraphernalia from the home as well as substances believed to be crushed prescription pills, methamphetamine, and heroin. 
Three individuals were arrested at the scene and multiple other subjects found in the house have drug charges pending. 
On the night of the 9th, there were “so many people in there,” Chief Hogan said. 
Victoria Collins, 31, of Willow Springs, was taken into custody and extradited to Camden County for an outstanding warrant for possessing a weapon in a correctional facility and other drug charges, said Lt. Arlyne Page of Camden County Sheriff’s Office. Formal drug charges for Collins relating to the April 9 search warrant are pending. According to Lt. Page, Collins was released from Camden County Jail on April 14. 
Donald Snethern, 35, of Willow Springs, was also arrested at the scene of the West Fourth St. house. He had warrants from Howell County Sheriff’s Office for burglary, unlawful possession of illegal drugs, resisting arrest, and unlawful possession of a weapon. He remained in Howell County Jail as of April 15. 
Aaron Corey, 19, of Willow Springs, was the third person arrested at the scene. Police say he was in possession of a substance believed to be methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a loaded 9mm handgun. Corey was formally charged by the Howell County Prosecuting Attorney’s office on April 10 for drug possession and unlawful possession of a firearm. His bond was set at $10,000, and as of press time, he remains in Howell County Jail. 
Chief Hogan said the proximity of the house to the Willow Springs R-IV school campus will come into play only if the drug charges are distribution charges, and not simply possession charges. At this time, it remains unclear if any of the subjects will be charged with distribution.

Howell County News

110 W. Main St.,
Willow Springs, MO 65793
417-252-2123

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