Deputies arrest Tecumseh woman at campground

A Tecumseh woman faces drug charges following an incident at a local campground in Ozark County.

Katherine Watson, 60, is charged with possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia with a prior drug offense as a result. 

According to a probable cause statement prepared by Ozark County Deputy Hunter Ryan, deputies were dispatched April 25 to a report of a woman refusing to leave a camper trailer residence where she was not authorized to stay. The property’s manager had requested that she be removed.

Upon arrival, deputies spoke with Tony Johnson, who directed them to a small camper on the opposite side of the campground where the woman was staying. Deputy Ryan and Deputy Josh Sherman made contact with Watson at the camper, which they noted belonged to Franke Frunzi (see story, below), who had recently been arrested on a warrant.

Deputies informed Watson that she was not permitted to stay on the property and needed to leave at the request of the owner and manager. During the encounter, Watson acknowledged she was on probation. When asked for identification, she told officers it was in her vehicle and walked to retrieve it.

Deputy Sherman then asked for consent to search the vehicle, which was granted due to Watson’s status on probation in Arkansas, according to the report. During the search, deputies reportedly located a zip-top bag containing a white crystal-like residue that field-tested positive for methamphetamine using a TruNarc device.

After being advised she would be taken into custody, Watson was asked to empty her pockets. According to the report, she removed a small glass vial containing a similar crystal-like substance and placed it on the hood of the vehicle, acknowledging its presence.

Watson was transported to the Ozark County Jail, where she was booked and held on a 24-hour hold pending formal charges. She was initially held on a $3,500 cash-only bond and was later granted supervised bond release on April 28. She is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. May 26 for a criminal setting.