Ronald HickamBethanie AndersonDuring the afternoon hours of April 29, deputies of the Howard County Sheriff's Office, officers from the Fayette Police Department, troopers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and officers of the East Central Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at a residence located at 361 Highway 187 in Howard County.

Officers seized methamphetamine, firearms and drug paraphernalia and arrested two individuals.
Ronald Hickam, 46, of Franklin, was arrested for unlawful possession of firearms and possession of a controlled substance. As of press time, Hickam remains in the Howard County Jail under a $75,000 cash-only bond.

Bethanie Anderson, 48, of Glasgow, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. As of press time, Anderson remains in the Howard County Jail under a $50,000 cash-surety bond.

Hickam is a prior drug offender having pleaded guilty to the distribution/manufacture/possession of a controlled substance in 2006, 2005 and 2001.

Anderson is a prior drug offender who has pleaded guilty to the possession of a controlled substance in 2001.

At about 3:40 p.m. on April 29, law enforcement officers arrived at 361 Highway 187 and stated their intent to search the residence with loud verbal announcements. Law enforcement officers entered the residence and found a white female, Bethanie Anderson, lying on the living room floor. Anderson was detained without incident.

Inside the residence, five rifles were found inside a gun cabinet. Two of the rifles were fully loaded and chambered. Multiple live rounds of ammunition for each gun were also present.

Also seized were substances which field-tested positive for methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia associated with methamphetamine use.

At about 4:30 p.m., Hickam arrived at the scene. Substances which tested positive for marijuana and methamphetamine were observed in the car seat next to Hickam.

Hickam is a convicted felon and prohibited from owning firearms.