Former Missouri police officer charged with cattle theft 

Former Goodman, Missouri, police chief Samuel Townsend, 25, has been arrested for two counts of felony cattle theft. Townsend, also a former McDonald County sheriff’s deputy, has been accused of stealing two black Angus bulls in October and selling them at the Joplin Stockyards. The two bulls sold for approximately $5,588.20, and surveillance video at the sale barn shows Townsend bringing the livestock to the sale. 

According to the probable cause statement, law enforcement learned of the theft when Townsend contacted the Joplin Stockyards on Oct. 16 and asked the sale barn to stop payment on the check issued to him for the stolen cattle. He requested that the check instead be reissued to the actual owners of the animals, which was redacted from the report. 

Townsend was elected as police chief in April 2023 but resigned from the office in August 2024 after losing the McDonald County sheriff’s election. He is scheduled to make a court appearance Jan. 7 for an arraignment. 

Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected]. 

PHOTO: (Kindel Media via Pexels.)