Heroin, meth, and a fake bomb threat

When a Joplin Police officer spotted a known wanted suspect, little did he know the chain of events that would follow.

At around 6pm Sunday night, 45-year-old John Wright was seen in an alley near 18th and Virginia and ran into a backyard and hid in a trailer.

As officers surrounded the trailer and attempted to apprehend him, Joplin police received a bomb threat.

The unknown caller said there was a bomb in Northpark Mall. Investigators along with mall administration determined that there was no threat and the call was a hoax.

Also during the apprehension of Wright, officers located a car containing 3 adults and a 6-year-old child sitting in front of the home. As they investigated, those three individuals were found to be in possession of narcotics including heroin, meth and pot. They also had a stolen check that was part of a different Joplin Police department investigation.

Wright had an active probation violation warrant for 2nd Degree Assault. Wright gave up and came out and was arrested without further incident. He was also charged with Resisting Arrest and Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana).

40-year-old Jennifer Sumner was charged with Stealing, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Endangering the Welfare of a Child

26-year-old Jeremy Mallam was charged with Obstruction.

49-year-old Paul Freel was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. He was also charged with DWI-D.

33-year-old Megan Biggs was also arrested on scene for Obstruction and Public Consumption.

The bomb threat is still being investigated at this time.