Man Planned to Rob Undercover Officer During Drug Deal, Police Say

Two men were charged with selling crack cocaine to an undercover officer, and one of the men was charged with planning to rob the officer during a drug deal.

A St. Charles County Drug Task Force detective said Galen Snively, 38, was supposed to bring crack cocaine to a third drug deal with an undercover officer Aug. 12, but he planned to rob his potential buyer.

Instead, Snively and Christopher Michael Earnest were arrested when they arrived at the pre-arranged site at 2234 North Third Street in St. Charles.

“I was just gonna rob them. I ain’t got no crack,” Snively said after being arrested, according to a police report.

Snively did not have a weapon, but said he was desperate for money and would take the funds “by any means necessary,” police reported.

Snively, of the 1100 block of Barrath Place in Hazelwood, was charged Aug. 13 with attempting to take property from a victim and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

Earnest was charged Aug. 13 with two counts of distributing a controlled substance and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon.

The undercover officer said he met Earnest and his girlfriend July 30 at 301 Little Hills Expressway and July 31 at 2234 North Third Street in St. Charles. Both times, he bought crack cocaine from the couple, he said.

The officer said Earnest acted as a lookout, but seemed to be controlling his girlfriend. Earnest constantly checked the status of the drug sale and instructed his girlfriend on what to do to complete the sale.

Earnest also negotiated with the undercover officer regarding price of the drugs. At one point, he was agitated when it appeared a sale might not take place and he pulled out a knife, the detective reported.

During a third transaction, Earnest brought Snively with him. Earnest told police he recruited Snively to buy some crack and they would sell it and split the proceeds. Earnest told police he assumed Earnest had the crack when they arrived for the drug deal Aug. 12.

Earnest also pleaded guilty May 23 to domestic assault and property damage in Bridgeton.

Earnest and Snively are being held in St. Charles County jail. Bail for Earnest was set at $50,000, cash only. Bail for Snively was set at $35,000, cash only.