Facebook Marketplace Photo Leads To Man's Drug Arrest: Police

STONE COUNTY, MO — A social media tip led to the arrest of a Stone County man on Wednesday. James Kertz, 38, was charged with drug trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearm after the local sheriff's office was alerted to a photo he had posted to Facebook Marketplace.

"Last night one of our Stone County residents posted a catalytic converter for sale on Marketplace," Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader wrote on his office's Facebook page. "Apparently he must have been under the influence because in the background of his picture he posted, he left his large bag of meth and syringe on the coffee table."

Detectives obtained a warrant and searched the man's home, turning up not just drugs but also an illegal handgun, police said.

Kertz has been previously convicted of domestic assault, endangering a child and drug charges, according to online court records.

"You can imagine his surprise!! He still had 48 grams of meth and a pistol that he is forbidden to own!" Rader said, warning other social media merchants to keep their drugs out of their product photos.

As for the catalytic converter, "sorry folks," the sheriff said, it's no longer for sale.