Traffic stop in Laclede County results in arrests by Laclede County Sheriffs Department

40-year-old Springfield resident, Eric Jamarr Matthew, has been charged by the Laclede County Prosecutor’s Office with two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm after a vehicle he was traveling in was stopped by a Laclede County Deputy Sheriff and a Missouri Highway Patrol Trooper on Sunday afternoon. Matthew was a passenger in a vehicle traveling on Interstate 44. During the traffic stop, Matthew was found in possession of two handguns. He is a convicted felon and is barred from possessing a firearm. Matthew was also found in possession of marijuana, and during a search of the vehicle, nearly a pound of a white powdery substance, wrapped in plastic baggies, was located. “I anticipate further charges to be filed in this case after we receive a final lab report on the white powder,” says Sheriff David Millsap. “Based on our preliminary investigation during the traffic stop, we suspect the substance to be fentanyl.” Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is nearly 100 times stronger than morphine. “If this is what we believe it to be, fentanyl, this is the largest seizure of this substance that we have had in Laclede County.” Fentanyl has a current street value of $200 a gram. In addition to the white powdery substance, marijuana, and handguns, a total of 2130 dollars was seized as a result of the arrest. Matthew was traveling west on I-44 from St. Louis to Springfield. The white powder substance and cash were released to Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group. Matthew is currently in the Laclede County Jail with a 50-thousand dollar bond.