Drug charges filed in connection with 2023 traffic stop in Wasola

Charges stemming from an August 2023 traffic stop in Wasola moved forward earlier this year with the arrest of one of the defendants, while a warrant remains outstanding for the second, according to court records.

According to a probable cause statement prepared by Ozark County Lt. Matt Rhoades, at approximately 6:50 p.m. Aug. 18, 2023, the officer observed Kenneth Hanks driving a black Volkswagen with California license plates on Highway 5 in Wasola.

Lt. Rhoades noted in his report that he was familiar with Hanks and the vehicle from a previous traffic stop and knew Hanks’ California driver’s license had expired in 2019. Rhoades initiated a traffic stop and confirmed that Hanks did not have a valid driver’s license.

During the stop, Rhoades reported that Hanks and his passenger appeared nervous. The passenger, identified as Alisha King, has multiple prior arrests for possession of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia, according to the report.

“Due to their nervousness and criminal history with drugs, I requested a nearby K9 from Douglas County as I wrote Kenneth a ticket for driving without a driver’s license,” Rhoades stated.

The drug detection K9 conducted an open-air sniff of the vehicle and indicated the presence of a controlled substance. A subsequent search revealed a needle that field-tested positive for amphetamines and two spoons with a white powdery substance inside a backpack that Hanks said belonged to him and contained his laptop. Officers also located psilocybin mushrooms (“shrooms”) inside a black purse containing a wallet with debit cards in King’s name.

Rhoades reported that King began applying makeup immediately after the traffic stop began and held her bag throughout the encounter.

“Alisha started putting makeup on as soon as I conducted the traffic stop and held her bag the entirety of the stop,” Rhoades wrote. “I asked why she was putting makeup on all of the sudden, and she did not have an answer.”

After informing King she was under arrest for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia related to the items found in her purse, Rhoades searched her makeup bag and located a plastic bag containing 30 yellow pills marked “832,” identified as clonazepam. King did not have a prescription for the medication.

Rhoades then placed Hanks under arrest and conducted a search incident to arrest. Hanks told the officer he had methamphetamine and a capped needle in his left pants pocket, which he removed and handed to Rhoades. During a search at the jail, officers also located two methadone pills in Hanks’ right coin pocket.

Hanks is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance for methamphetamine and methadone. A warrant with a $1,500 cash-only bond was issued Dec. 22, 2025. According to online court records, he has not yet been arrested.

King is charged with four counts of possession of a controlled substance for methamphetamine, methadone, psilocybin and clonazepam. She was arrested Jan. 12 and released on her own recognizance under supervision by Court Probationary Services. She is scheduled to return to court at 1:30 p.m. March 10 for preliminary hearing before Associate Judge Gross.

King is charged as a prior and persistent drug offender due to her criminal history, a designation that could result in enhanced penalties if convicted.