During arrest, man tells cop meth is hard to find here now

A Wasola man is facing multiple drug and weapon charges after Ozark County deputies reportedly found methamphetamine, firearms and drug paraphernalia during a search of his home earlier this year.

Troy Santacroce, 39, of Wasola, is charged with possession of meth, two counts of possessing a felony-level controlled substance and a firearm at the same time, and one misdemeanor count of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, with a prior drug offense.

According to the probable cause statement, prepared by Ozark County Lieutenant Matthew Rhoades, the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department Special Enforcement Team (SET) executed a search warrant at Santacroce’s home on County Road 950 in Wasola on April 18. 

Officers reportedly found the following items, all of which field-tested positive for meth, the report says: a glass bond containing 251 grams of liquid methamphetamine, a plastic baggie with a straw, another glass bond and five syringes. Officers also seized a digital scale, a .22 caliber bolt-action rifle and 10 cell phones. 

“Shortly after the search, Tony Santacroce and his girlfriend arrived at the residence in a vehicle. Both were detained. During a search of Santacroce’s person, a .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun was recovered and seized,” Rhoades wrote in his report. 

Santacroce reportedly told the officer that he and his girlfriend occasionally use methamphetamine. He admitted ownership of the glass bong, containing 251 grams of meth and confirmed using the drug in the past week. 

“He noted that methamphetamine was difficult to obtain due to recent law enforcement activity targeting local users and dealers,” Rhoades’s report says. 

Santacroce is represented by James Colston of Carthage. He was arrested on Sept. 29 and held in jail until Oct. 6, when he was released on his own recognizance. A bond violation was filed Oct. 15, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He is set for a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 18, before Associate Judge Raymond Gross. 

A post to the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department Facebook page after the search warrant was executed indicates that Bethany Schaefer is the woman. Missouri’s online court record system CaseNet does not show a case for her involving the incident at this time.