Man charged with possessing meth, resisting arrest in December 2022

A warrant with a $3,500 cash-only bond has been issued for the arrest of Tyler J. Hogan of Ava in connection with a case which he’s charged with possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest and unlawful possession of a firearm. Hogan is being charged as a prior and persistent drug offender because he has been found guilty of two or more drug-related offenses in the past. The status of a prior of persistent offender means he could face increased punishment at sentencing if convicted. 

According to the probable cause statement filed by Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. C. Hogue, at 3:11 p.m. Dec. 20, 2022, a motorist flagged down the officer at the Lick Creek Bullseye station in Gainesville explaining that he’d followed a green S-10 down the highway and the truck was “all over the road.” The motorist said the truck in question was parked on the west side of the gas station at the tire inflation station. 

The officer parked on the north shoulder of Highway 160, just east of Highway 5, and waited until Hogan pulled out in the truck onto Highway 160. He then pulled out behind him to observe how Hogan was driving, but the S-10 immediately pulled onto Third Street at the Gainesville square when the patrol vehicle got behind him. The officer waited on the shoulder of Highway 160, and a few minutes later he witnessed Hogan pull back onto Highway 160 from Hillside Drive. He saw the truck driving in the shoulder with only one set of tires in the lane. He activated a traffic stop. 

“I made contact with the driver, Tyler J. Hogan. Mr. Hogan took a while to find his driver’s license in his wallet, and he was unable to find his insurance card. Mr. Hogan appeared to be having a hard time concentrating and remembering. Mr. Hogan repeatedly asked me the same questions,” Hogue’s report says. 

The officer asked Hogan if he’d had anything to drink, and he told the officer he’d not drank anything. He then asked if he was under the influence of any drugs, and he reportedly said he’d only taken prescription drugs for his anxiety. 

The officer performed a variety of field sobriety tests, which showed signs of intoxication, according to the report. 

The officer told Hogan he was under arrest. Hogan reportedly tried to flee on foot, but MSHP Cpl. N. Britt, who was also on scene, took Hogan to the ground. Hogan reportedly resisted putting on handcuffs, and Hogue used a “Kimura control,” to get the handcuffs on. 

The Troop G headquarters informed the officers that Hogan had an active Ozark County warrant with $500 bond for an already existing possession charge against him. 

Hogan reportedly had a pink plastic case on him that contained two small baggies of a crystal substance that the officers believed was meth, 5 needles, cotton balls and a spoon with white residue on it.