Steele police chief charged with distributing Xanax, hydrocodone

Michael Tomlinson Sr. [Click to enlarge]

Steele, Mo., police chief Michael "Strawberry" Tomlinson Sr. was arrested and brought before a federal judge Tuesday on prescription drug charges following a lengthy narcotics investigation.

The federal complaint alleges that Tomlinson, 43, possessed both hydrocodone and Xanax pills March 5 and March 9 and distributed them March 13.

Tomlinson was arrested shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday at the police department after federal authorities executed a search warrant, said federal prosecutor Catherine Hanaway.

Hanaway announced the charges Tuesday afternoon at a news conference.

The case took some time to develop, Hanaway said.

The Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department and Bootheel Drug Task Force alerted federal authorities to their suspicions about Tomlinson, Hanaway said, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were involved because the allegations concerned a public official.

"Obviously, these are very difficult cases," Hanaway said.

"In this case, the rumors and complaints rose to a level where they were investigated and found to be true."

Hanaway said no other individuals, law enforcement or otherwise, had been charged in connection with the allegations against Tomlinson.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edoddsemissourian.com Federal prosecutor Catherine Hanaway announces a federal complaint against Michael Tomlinson, police chief of Steele, Mo., from the Cape Girardeau federal courthouse Tuesday afternoon. Tomlinson faces two counts of possession of narcotics and two counts of intent to distribute. [Click to enlarge]

Tomlinson appeared before a federal magistrate Tuesday afternoon for his first court appearance.

If convicted, he faces a maximum of five years' incarceration on the distribution charges, a fine up to $250,000 or a combination of the two, and a maximum of one year in prison or a fine of up to $1,000 on the possession charges.

Steele chief investigator Capt. Beverly Alexander said the department will continue to perform its duties for the residents of Steele, though she confessed surprise at the charges against Tomlinson.

"I hope that the citizens will not allow this incident to reflect on the rest of the police department," Alexander said.

"We are committed to serving the citizens of Steele. I am deeply disturbed by these allegations; however, it shows that no one is above the law."

Alexander said the department is cooperating fully with the authorities.

"The sooner the truth comes out, the sooner we can lay this to rest and move on," she said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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Pertinent addresses:

Steele, MO