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A Lincoln County official faces drug charges, and police say they’re seeing more abuse of one of the medications he’s accused of taking.
Matthew Bass, 45, of Troy, who serves as a Lincoln County commissioner, is charged with two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance.
Bass is accused of buying morphine pills and a fentanyl patch from a confidential informant Wednesday in a Troy.
Authorities said they’d been watching Bass after getting tips that he was abusing painkillers.
Troy Police Maj. Raymond Floyd said an investigation shows Bass “may have had problems with prescription medications for some time.”
Floyd said such arrests are sporadic, but that fentanyl is “becoming a major problem.”
The prescription painkiller mainly is used for anesthesia in hospitals. The drug is so popular because it’s vastly more potent than morphine.
“We combat prescription medication abuse almost as much as illicit drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin,” Floyd said.
A probable cause statement prepared by Floyd shows the informant called Bass and told the suspect that he wanted to get rid of some morphine pills and a fentanyl patch.
“Bass replied that he would take it all,” according to the report.
The report indicates Bass then asked the informant to meet him in the parking lot of a Troy convenience store.
The informant wore a video surveillance and a transmitter. The report shows Bass pulled beside the informant’s vehicle and gave him $35 in exchange for the drugs.
Shortly after the transaction, Bass was pulled over by another Troy officer and Floyd then arrived to make the arrest.
“At that time, Bass admitted to having illegal drugs in the front of his pants,” according to Floyd’s report.
A search revealed Bass also had another controlled substance on him, oxycodone, but Bass said he had a prescription for it. He also was found in possession of the pain relievers Ibuprofen and Gabapenten, police said.
“During questioning, Bass admitted to purchasing Morphine and the Fentanyl patch from an individual (at the convenience store),” Floyd reported. “He indicated that he has purchased these items from the (informant) on prior occasions. Bass indicated that he purchased the pills because of the back pain he is under and explained he was scheduled to have a surgery soon.”
Floyd praised area pharmacies for their cooperation in cracking down on prescription fraud.
Bass operated the Krumbly Burger restaurant in Troy and was a former Troy city councilman. Floyd was familiar with Bass, and described him as “a very nice guy” who was “very respected” in the community.
A Lincoln County official faces drug charges, and police say they’re seeing more abuse of one of the medications he’s accused of taking.
Matthew Bass, 45, of Troy, who serves as a Lincoln County commissioner, is charged with two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance.
Bass is accused of buying morphine pills and a fentanyl patch from a confidential informant Wednesday in a Troy.
Authorities said they’d been watching Bass after getting tips that he was abusing painkillers.
Troy Police Maj. Raymond Floyd said an investigation shows Bass “may have had problems with prescription medications for some time.”
Floyd said such arrests are sporadic, but that fentanyl is “becoming a major problem.”
The prescription painkiller mainly is used for anesthesia in hospitals. The drug is so popular because it’s vastly more potent than morphine.
“We combat prescription medication abuse almost as much as illicit drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin,” Floyd said.
A probable cause statement prepared by Floyd shows the informant called Bass and told the suspect that he wanted to get rid of some morphine pills and a fentanyl patch.
“Bass replied that he would take it all,” according to the report.
The report indicates Bass then asked the informant to meet him in the parking lot of a Troy convenience store.
The informant wore a video surveillance and a transmitter. The report shows Bass pulled beside the informant’s vehicle and gave him $35 in exchange for the drugs.
Shortly after the transaction, Bass was pulled over by another Troy officer and Floyd then arrived to make the arrest.
“At that time, Bass admitted to having illegal drugs in the front of his pants,” according to Floyd’s report.
A search revealed Bass also had another controlled substance on him, oxycodone, but Bass said he had a prescription for it. He also was found in possession of the pain relievers Ibuprofen and Gabapenten, police said.
“During questioning, Bass admitted to purchasing Morphine and the Fentanyl patch from an individual (at the convenience store),” Floyd reported. “He indicated that he has purchased these items from the (informant) on prior occasions. Bass indicated that he purchased the pills because of the back pain he is under and explained he was scheduled to have a surgery soon.”
Floyd praised area pharmacies for their cooperation in cracking down on prescription fraud.
Bass operated the Krumbly Burger restaurant in Troy and was a former Troy city councilman. Floyd was familiar with Bass, and described him as “a very nice guy” who was “very respected” in the community.
The Republican was elected to the county commission in November 2008 and is paid $32,229 annually.
If he resigns, the Republican and Democrat central committees in Lincoln County would submit names to Gov. Jay Nixon, who would name a replacement to serve until the November 2010 election.
If Bass is convicted of the charges, he would be forced to resign.
County Clerk Elaine Luck said Friday morning she had not spoken with Bass. The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Monday in Troy.
“We work with the man,” Luck said. “We have to be as diplomatic and as optimistic as we can. Everybody is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
Bass was free Friday on $20,000 cash-only bond pending a court appearance.
