On Wednesday, August 20th, 2025, at approximately 9am, a Deputy patrolling the Appleton City/Rockville area observed a vehicle not displaying any license plates. The Deputy stopped the vehicle on 52 Highway east of Appleton City. The Deputy identified the driver as William “hubba” Phelps of Montrose, Missouri. The Sheriff and an Undersheriff responded to the traffic stop to assist the Deputy.
The driver
was requested to exit the vehicle, but he refused. At that time the Sheriff
opened the passenger side of the vehicle and began to give additional
directions to the driver to exit the vehicle. The driver then reached down
behind his back in the area of the console. Knowing the driver’s violent
tendencies and fearing he was reaching for a gun; the Sheriff drew his weapon
and began ordering Mr. Phelps to comply. Phelps then picked up some food and
threw it in the Sheriff’s face. Phelps was extracted from the driver’s seat and
began to resist and fight the Deputies.
After a
struggle on the road, where the 3 deputies were assaulted, the deputies and K9
were finally able to place Phelps into handcuffs. As the deputies were attempting to place
Phelps in the patrol car, he continued to resist and started pounding his head
against the hood of the patrol car. As the Deputies moved around to the side of
the patrol car he continued to kick and try to prevent the deputies from
putting him in the car. During the incident Phelps attempted to kick the back
window out of the patrol car and caused dents to the hood and side of the
patrol car.
Phelps was
transported to the Bates County Hospital to be medically cleared to be booked
into the Jail.
A search of
Phelps car revealed approximately 108 grams of methamphetamine.
During the
traffic stop, the Sheriff’s Office received two separate calls in reference to
a “car wreck involving an elderly lady” just a mile awayfrom the scene. Another
call was placed reporting that the car was now on fire, but the calling party
was not able to give details that a legitimate caller should have been able to
provide had it been an actual accident. Even though the deputies were confident
the callers were attempting to draw them away from the traffic stop with Phelps,
out of an abundance of caution, additional units responded to the area to
determine the validity of the calls. As suspected, no accident was
located.
However, the
Sheriff’s office was able to obtain the identify, the phone carrier, and
vehicle description of the caller. The technology available to the officers
captured all the evidence they need to file charges for those in coordinating
with William “hubba” Phelps, a career criminal. This case will also be reviewed
by the US Attorney’s Office for prosecution and that will bring those who
supported or attempted to help Phelps obstruct law enforcement, and possibly
will include in a potential indictment.”
William
Phelps has been charged with:
·
Trafficking
Drugs 2nd Degree, Class B Felony
·
3
counts of Assault 2nd Degree, Class B Felony
(special victims)
·
Resisting
Arrest for a Felony, Class E Felony
·
Property
Damage 1st, Class E Felony
Bond was set
at $250k cash only.
