Former Ray County coroner is accused of smoking meth in hearse

The former coroner of Ray County, Mo., has been charged after he was arrested earlier this year while allegedly smoking methamphetamine in a hearse outside an area casino.

Toby L. Polley is charged in Platte County Circuit Court with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Polley, 46, was allegedly seen on surveillance video smoking a glass pipe inside a white hearse in the Argosy Casino parking lot just before midnight on Feb. 24, according to Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd.

When a Riverside police sergeant came to investigate, Polley allegedly told the officer there was a pipe in the middle console but nothing else illegal in the vehicle.

However, when he searched the vehicle, the sergeant found a small plastic bag with a white crystal substance tucked in a passenger seat.

The substance tested positive for methamphetaminene.

When police reviewed the casino surveillance video, they saw Polley load the pipe and light it several times, according to court documents.

Polley resigned his position in early March.

He is free on bond and is scheduled to appear in court June 18.

This story was originally published May 26, 2015 at 4:43 PM with the headline "Former Ray County coroner is accused of smoking meth in hearse."