Teargas used to evacuate subject barricaded in house on North Main Street

Webb City police and other responding agencies waited two hours Tuesday night for a suspect with a history of being armed come out of a house in the 600 block of N. Main Street.

At about 8:10 p.m., Webb City officers saw Tyretha Smith, 29, of Webb City, enter the residence. Two felony warrants were the reason for his arrest, according to Police Chief Don Melton. The warrants were for failure to appear on a discharging a firearm charge and possession of marijuana.

Melton said Smith has a history of being in possession of firearms.

Officers surrounded the residence and called for Smith to peacefully come out of the house. Also, the Webb City Police Department Special Response Team was called to secure the scene.

Meanwhile, two women and three small children came out. One of the women, Indica Smith, 36, of Webb City, had been arrested in Carthage for failure to register a motor vehicle. The other, Christine Lambeth, 43, Joplin, had three warrants for her arrest: for driving while revoked, trafficking in stolen IDs and probation violation for a fraud conviction.

The three children were turned over to a relative who had come to the scene. 

Deputies with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Special Response Team introduced a form of tear gas into the house.

Smith exited the house at 10:11 p.m. and was taken into custody without further incident. Melton said there will likely be additional charges filed against Smith for felony resisting arrest and felony possession of a controlled substance.

Webb City officers remained on scene until 10:55 p.m.

In addition to the deputies, police officers responded from Carterville and Oronogo.