The search for a 17-year-old woman wanted in connection with a fatal Memorial Day crash led to the arrest of two people in Douglas County.
Karena Smith was wanted on charges of manslaughter and assault after driving drunk and being in a crash that killed one of her passengers.
Smith was arrested in Greene County.
It is unclear how her search led to the arrests in Douglas County.
On July 8th Lt. Atonya Hampton and Sgt. Vernon Johnson of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office engaged in a multi-agency arrest in the Goodhope area of Douglas County.
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies and officers with the U.S. Marshal Service arrested Ricky Paul Hicks, 45, of Ava on an outstanding federal warrant.
Also arrested was Kathryn West, 44, also of Ava, on a Webster County warrant.
At the time the arrests were made, deputies found the duo to be in possession of numerous ingredients to manufacture methamphetamine, along with the drug itself.
Arrest warrants are pending on West and Hicks for numerous drug violations.
Sheriff Chris Degase said that this is one of many multi-agency operations that have been performed with the U.S. Marshal Services and the two agencies have developed an excellent working relationship.
Degase would like to remind everyone that they may report illegal activity to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office anonymously by either calling 417-683-1020 or by visiting the website at www.dcsosheriff.com.
