Two Wright City residents were arrested on drug charges Nov. 21 after a three-hour standoff with police.
William L. Held, 38, is charged with possession and manufacturing of a controlled substance in the incident. Erin N. Dorlaque, 28, is charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Wright City Police Detective Sgt. Tim Matthews said a Wright City police officer went to the 50 block of Appaloosa Way where Held had been living and spotted his truck in the garage through a partially open door.
Matthews said the officer went to the door but Darlaque would not let him in. “So we surrounded the residence while I went and got a search warrant.”
Matthews said police were informed that Held was possibly armed so the Missouri State Highway Patrol SWAT team and deputies with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office were called in to help.
“Finally, around 4:30 (p.m.) we made a tactical approach and Held exited and peacefully surrendered,” he said. “Erin came out earlier and surrendered.”
Matthews said police had gone to the residence on Nov. 18 with a search warrant and found evidence Held had been making methamphetamine.
An initial search outside the home revealed a barbeque grill on the back patio that contained a “one pot” or “shake and bake” portable meth lab. Inside the residence the search revealed multiple articles of drug paraphenalia, including hypodermic needles, smoking devices ad metal spoons with burnt residue.
Held had allegedly mounted night vision surveillance equipment outside the residence, as well as infrared “trail cameras,” typically used for spotting wild game animals, throughout the interior of the home.
“It was further discovered that he (Held) had reinforced his front door in an attempt to delay the entry time of a police response,” Matthews said.
Police said that both Held and Dorlaque had been on their radar for alleged meth manufacturing after each were logged making multiple purchases of pseudoephedrine, a main ingredient in methampethamine. Held has 51 documented purchases, while Dorlaque has 43.
Dorlaque allegedly told police that she bought the pseudoephedrine for Held who paid her $70 to $80 for each purchase.
Both Held and Dorlaque bonded out of the Warren County Jail. However, on Nov. 28 they were rearrested and charged with concealing a controlled substance in a county jail.
According to deputies at the jail, three blue pills were spotted on the floor. A security surveillance video recorded Dorlaque trying to push them under a cell door. Further search of her person revealed a blue powder substance and an additional blue pill.
After finding pills in Dorlaque’s possession, deputies reviewed more surveillance footage which showed Held throwing a white object on the ground near the cell where Dorlaque was later found with the blue pills and blue powder.
Testing identified the pills and powder as Alprazolam, a controlled substance.
Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison said police called Held and informed him of the latest warrant, and he and Dorlaque surrendered to authorities.
Harrison said they have since bonded out again.
