Trio arrested at B’field drug house

After officers served a July 13 search warrant at a suspected drug house owned by David Zastrow, 51, of Bakersfield, and he and two co-defendants Michelle Mahler, 39, of Caulfield, and Angela Howell, 42, of Salem, were arrested. 

The trio has now been charged with multiple felonies in the case, which alleges Zastrow and Mahler’s suspected drug sales, along with possession of meth and weapons charges. 

Zastrow faces the longest list of felonies including delivering a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, keeping or maintaining a public nuisance, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon (possessing a felony-level controlled substance and a firearm at the same time). 

Mahler is also charged with delivering a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon (possessing a felony-level controlled substance and a firearm at the same time).

Howell is charged with one felony charge of possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia (with a prior drug offense).

According to the probable cause statement, prepared by Ozark County Sheriff’s Deputy Josh Sherman, at 10:49 p.m. July 13, the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department executed a residential search warrant at Zastrow’s residence in Bakersfield. When officers arrived, they activated their emergency lights and exclaimed that anyone at the property should make their presence known to law enforcement. Zastrow, Mahler and Howell exited the house and were taken into custody shortly afterward. 

A search of the residence turned up the following items, which were seized as evidence: 

• a 22mm Heritage Rough Rider pistol in the master bedroom; 

• four cell phones; 

• 15 Hydrocodone pills and a number of other colored pills; 

• a cigarette pack with 2 grams of methamphetamine inside the sleeve;

• a brown glass container that field-tested positive for methamphetamine;

• a digital scale that field-tested positive for methamphetamine;

• a large bag with numerous smaller baggies;

• a glass pipe with a white crystal-like substance that field tested positive for meth; 

• a spoon and orange straw that field-tested positive for meth;

• a bowl with three pipes that field-tested positive for meth;

• two debit cards found within orange container with the meth pipes;

• orange container with paraphernalia;

• and clear glass container within an orange box that field-tested positive for meth.

Zastrow was arrested Sept. 20 on a warrant with $7,500 bond and held until he was released on his own recognizance Sept. 30. He was scheduled to return to court Oct. 15.

Mahler was also originally arrested in her case on Sept. 20 and granted release on her own recognizance on Sept. 24; however, she reportedly violated the terms of her bond release and a warrant has been issued for her re-arrest in the case. She was also ordered to appear in court Oct. 15. 

Howell was arrested on a warrant with a $2,000 cash only bond on Sept. 23 and released the same day. A non-compliance report has also been filed against Howell, and a warrant has been issued for her re-arrest as well. She was also ordered to return to court Oct. 15.