Missouri Sheriff Arrested For Meth Distribution In Drug Ravaged County

A sheriff in a meth-ravaged county in the Missouri Ozarks has been arrested - for distributing meth.



Tommy Adams, who had been the sheriff of Carter County for more than two years, was arrested this month after giving an informant the drug and then snorting it himself.


Adams, 31, is being held on $250,000 bond.


Investigators noticed that there had been far fewer meth lab busts in the county since Adams took over, and now say they suspect they know why.


"I think meth is out there and maybe he knew what was going on," said Carter County Presiding Commissioner John Bailiff. "I think a lot of people just turn a deaf ear to it, including maybe the sheriff."


Adams had just two years of law enforcement experience when he won a bizarre election to get the $37,000-a-year job.


Running in 2008 as a Republican against a heavily favored Democratic incumbent, Adams became the favorite when his opponent committed suicide just weeks before the election.


It was too late to take his opponent's name off the ballot, and Adams narrowly eked in by just one vote - 1,424-1,423.


The case has been taken over the state attorney general's office.