Festus, MO – An Irondale man is facing a felony charge after authorities say he was found in possession of synthetic narcotics during a patrol stop last summer.

According to court documents filed on Sept. 3, 2025, the Festus Police Department has probable cause to believe that on July 23, 2023, Anthony O. Grisham, age 48, of Irondale, MO, was in possession of fentanyl and metonitazene—both controlled substances—at a closed business in Festus.

While on patrol, a Festus Police officer observed Grisham underneath a vehicle parked outside the business. Grisham told the officer he was working on the vehicle and had his own truck parked nearby with the door open.

The officer placed Grisham under arrest after confirming he had outstanding warrants. During a pat-down search, the officer discovered a tube-style pill container and a plastic cigarette holder in Grisham’s left front pants pocket. Grisham gave verbal consent for a search of the items, according to the report.

Inside the containers, the officer reportedly found several multi-colored capsules containing white powder, a Walgreens pill pouch, and a black-and-silver metal pipe. The capsules and paraphernalia were seized and sent to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Lab for analysis, where they tested positive for fentanyl and metonitazene.

Grisham has been charged with a Class D felony for possession of a controlled substance under Section 579.015, RSMo. Due to a prior conviction for drug possession on May 26, 2023, he is classified as a prior drug offender, which elevates the potential penalty to that of a Class C felony under Missouri law.

Paul Barnard Editor

Paul Barnard is the editor of the Twin City News. Barnard Graduated from Norwich University, America's oldest private military college, with a B.S. in Communications and Media Technology. There he studied journalism and marketing. For years after, Barnard was in law enforcement and gained experience in the Special Investigations Unit and publishing all the department's press releases. As Barnard's family grew, he moved on to start Twin City News.

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