2 in custody following traffic stop in Stover

Morgan County and Moniteau County authorities were involved in the apprehension of two people following a traffic stop this week in Stover.

The incident occurred Wednesday when a careless and imprudent driving report came in near the Stover city limits on Missouri 135 South, according to Stover Police Department reports. Reports indicated two people in the vehicle were fighting.

Stover Police Chief Trampus Jackson saw the vehicle at Missouri 135 and Missouri 52 and stopped it.

The passenger, Edward James, 40, of Lebanon, was found to have outstanding warrants out of Vernon County. He was taken into custody and found to be in possession of a loaded 12-gauge shotgun. James faces new charges of possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon.

Jackson called Moniteau County Sheriff Tony Wheatley, asking that his department's K-9 unit help search the vehicle. K-9 Mizzou led officers to bags of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, a set of digital scales and a loaded handgun.

The driver, Quentin Hildebrand, 40, of Plato, was taken into custody for possession of a controlled substance and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon.