28-year-old charged with copper wire thefts, 2 cases from 2022

BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democcrat.com

A Cassville man is facing six total charges in three separate cases relating to alleged stealing, possession of controlled substances and fleeing.

Garrett Munday is charged in the first case with felony stealing, in the second case with possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor resisting arrest, and the third case with possession of a controlled substance, as well as misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor resisting arrest.

In the first case, according to a probable cause statement filed by Det. Billy Forester, with the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, on Aug. 8, Deputy James Meyers took a report of past Brightspeed communication line wire theft in Barry County.

On Aug. 11, Forester responded to an address near Cassville for an unrelated call for service, making contact with Munday at the scene. Munday had been previously identified by an anonymous witness as a suspect in the wire thefts across the county.

Forester said at the residence, he observed a burn pit containing several pieces of metal tubing material consistent with the Brightspeed wire, and two witnesses at the residence said Munday was the only one who used the burn pile.

While speaking with Munday at the residence, Forester said he observed a bucket full of copper wire in the vehicle Munday was driving. Munday allegedly admitted it was his wire, and Forester said it was identical to the copper wire filaments inside Brightspeed communication wires.

The second and third cases stem from alleged offenses in June and October in 2022. According to a probable cause statement filed by Officer Skyler Berry, with the Monett Police Department, on June 10, 2022, Berry recognized Munday walking on 4th and Cale streets while on patrol and knew he had active warrants.

Berry approached Munday and told him to stop twice before Munday allegedly fled on foot and dropped a backpack in his possession. Officer Jalynn Harner was also in the area and picked up the chase, apprehending Munday while Berry secured the backpack.

Munday had two warrants at that time, and the backpack allegedly contained three plastic bags and a metal tin with a clear crystal-like substance, as well as multiple smoking devices. Field tests of the substance and one pipe allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Deputy Meyers on Oct. 4, 2022, authorities responded to a residence on Benton Street in Monett at about 2:19 p.m. on Jan. 27, 2022, to serve a warrant.

Deputies had been informed individuals with warrants were living in the homeowner’s shed. The homeowner said no one was, and when asked if deputies could search it, replied, “I would rather you not.”

After some time, Deputy Michael Stribling was able to get consent to look inside the shed, and upon opening the door, three individuals exited, and another individual later identified as Munday allegedly ran from the shed on foot.

After a foot chase for a few blocks, Munday allegedly jumped a fence and hid in a truck topper. He then complied with commands to come out and was taken into custody.

Munday said he ran because he had warrants, according to Meyers’ statement, and he also allegedly told deputies he had swallowed approximately one gram of methamphetamine and had a meth pipe in his pocket, which later tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.

Munday is being held in the Barry County jail on a cash-only bond of $7,500 in the 2025 case. The 2022 cases do not have bonds listed. All three cases had hearings on Thursday in the courtroom of Judge Robert Foulke. A petition for bond reduction has also been filed.