The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Local News

November 3, 2009

<img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/policeandfire.gif" border=0 > Felony charge filed against man arrested in raid

A felony charge has been filed against one of three people who were taken into custody Sunday by Joplin police when a special weapons and tactics team was deployed to enter a house where a stolen vehicle was located.

Police Lt. Brian Lewis said in a news release Monday that officers on patrol spotted a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado in front of 1008 W. Second St. The truck had been reported stolen Oct. 27, he said.

Information police received while trying to make contact with the house’s occupants caused officers to set up a perimeter around the home and call in the SWAT team, Lewis said. The team entered the home two hours later and took three people into custody, he said.

William D. Merchant, 25, of Joplin, was charged with first-degree tampering with a vehicle. A charge of receiving stolen property was sought against a 30-year-old woman from Duenweg, but the charge had not been filed against her by late Monday afternoon. The third person, a 29-year-old man from Goodman, was charged with misdemeanor obstruction of justice.

Police said they are investigating information that the stolen vehicle may have been used in a series of other crimes since it was taken last week.

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