Butler Missouri Police Department

09/30/2026

Multiple officers will be at the bonfire tonight. This is just a continuation of precaution for the incident this morning. We want everyone to feel safe attending these events no matter who tries to spread fear.

09/30/2026

On 9/28/2026 at approximately 5:04pm, a Butler Officer conducted a traffic stop in the area of Fran Ave. for expired registration. After making contact with the driver, who was identified as Amy Thornton, and passenger, the Officer requested identification from both the driver and passenger. Upon asking for the passenger’s information, the passenger provided the Officer with a false name. The Officer was able to determine the passenger’s identity and learned that the passenger had active warrants.

The Officer then addressed the passenger by his legal name. The passenger was identified as James Thornton. Once James was addressed by his legal name, he began telling Amy to roll up the window and drive. The Officer advised them not to leave and the officer then opened the driver side door to the vehicle to attempt to remove the driver from the vehicle. At this point, James was able to put the vehicle into drive and press on the gas pedal causing the vehicle to drive forward with the Butler Officer still partially inside the vehicle.

The vehicle then fled at a high rate of speed until reaching the dead end of Fran Ave near 411 S Fran where James exited the vehicle and began to flee on foot. Amy remained in the vehicle. One Butler Officer was able to pursue James on foot while another Butler Officer continued to pursue Amy who was still in the vehicle. The vehicle then came to a stop in the parking lot of 411 S Fran where Amy was taken into custody. Another Officer was able to take James into custody to the South of the apartments after a short foot pursuit. While running on foot from officers, James possessed a black bag that was later recovered. Inside the black bag was a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine along with drug paraphernalia.

Both Amy and James were transported to the Bates County Jail where they were both placed on a 24 hour hold.

On 9/29/26, warrants were issued for both James and Amy.

Amy received the following charges:

Assault 2nd Degree - Special Victim
Aggravated Fleeing A Stop or Detention
Possession of a Controlled Substance
Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Amy’s bond was set at $100,000 Cash Only.

James received the following charges:

Assault 2nd Degree - Special Victim
Aggravated Fleeing A Stop or Detention Possession of Controlled Substance
Resisting/Interfering With Arrest For A Felony
Unlawful Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia

James’s bond was set at $100,000 Cash Only.

09/25/2026

If you know the owner of this dog, please contact the police department!

09/24/2026

09/22/2026

On September 22nd, 2026, Butler Police Officers observed Larry Eyer walking North in the area of Fort Scott and High, just South of Butler Elementary. Eyer is a registered s*x offender, convicted of lewd and levicious acts with a minor in the State of California, and has multiple pending caes in Bates County for failing to register as a s*x offender and loitering/being present within 500’ of a school. Because of this extensive, recent history, officers quickly identified Eyer and made contact.

Eyer was placed into custody and transported to the Bates County Jail, where was placed on a 24 hour hold,and later issued a warrant for s*x offender present/loitering within 500’ of a school, with a bond of $5000 cash or surety.

09/02/2026

UPDATE: The roadway is now clear.

There is currently a tree down blocking the roadway at the bridge on South Main near County Road 504. Please find an alternate route if taking South Main past 504 at this time.

08/30/2026

UPDATE: Road has been reopened.

Please avoid the area of Dakota and Maple Street. Power lines are down in the area. Crews are on scene now working to repair it.

08/03/2026

07/29/2026

On July 28th, 2026, Butler Police Officers recieved information that a registered s*x offender had used Wal-mart’s address, 400 S. Fran, to fictitiously register. A short investigation verified that Larry Eyer, age 59, had indeed utilized Wal-mart’s address to register as a s*x offender.

Eyer was located and arrested a short time later, and placed on 24 hour hold for failing to register as a s*x offender. A warrant was applied for and subsequently issued for Eyer’s arrest, with a bond of $4,500 cash or surety. Eyer currently remains in custody.

07/14/2026

On 7/12/2026 at approximately 8:16pm, a Butler Officer conducted a traffic stop in the 300 block of East Pine street for the vehicle displaying the license plates of another vehicle. Upon a records check of the driver, identified as Kayle Cooper, the officer determined that Cooper had an active warrant for felony driving while revoked and that Cooper’s driver license was still revoked.

The Officer then asked Cooper to exit the vehicle and when Cooper exited the vehicle, a piece of aluminum foil fell from Cooper. The Officer then retrieved the piece of foil. While speaking to the Officer, a second piece of foil fell from Cooper and Cooper attempted to destroy the second piece of foil before the Officer retrieved it. The foil was suspected to be used to consume narcotics.

K-9 Enzo then conducted a free air sniff of the vehicle to which K-9 Enzo alerted to the odor of narcotics. No further contraband was located during the search of the vehicle. Cooper advised the Officer that she had put the foil on her person in an attempt to not get caught with it.

Prior to placing Cooper into the patrol vehicle, a metal straw fell from her person. Cooper stated that the metal straw was used to hit the foils.

Cooper was then transported to the Bates County Jail where the jail’s body scanner was utilized to check for any other concealed contraband on Cooper. The body scanner showed Cooper had other suspected drug paraphernalia inside of her body. The drug paraphernalia was then retrieved from Cooper.

Cooper has an extensive drug history and is currently on probation and parole for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Resisting Arrest, and Tampering with a Motor Vehicle.

On 7/13/2026, Kayle Cooper received a warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance with a bond amount of $10,000 Cash or Surety. Later the same day, the bond was reduced to a signature bond.