Cape Girardeau man arrested in Poplar Bluff for alleged crack cocaine sale

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Two area residents were charged Friday with distributing crack cocaine to a confidential informant within 1,000 feet of public or government housing in south Poplar Bluff.

Alvin Moses Hightower, 25, of Cape Girardeau and Tanisha Evon Richie, 23, of the 800 block of Valley were charged with the Class A felony of distribution of a controlled substance by Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour.

After reviewing the complaints and probable cause affidavits filed with the court, Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth issued warrants for Hightower and Richie’s arrests. Bloodworth set their bonds at $50,000 each.

The complaints on file with the court allege on July 29, Hightower and Richie "knowingly distributed cocaine, a controlled substance, to a confidential informant, on or within 1,000 feet of a real property comprising of public housing or other governmental assisted housing."

In his probable cause affidavit, Poplar Bluff Police Detective Corey Mitchell said he met with a confidential informant (CI) at about 11:30 a.m. July 29.

The CI stated he/she "could purchase a quantity of crack cocaine from a black male known to him/her as ‘Moe,’" said Mitchell, who knew "Moe" to be Hightower.

After searching the CI, Mitchell said, he had the CI place a recorded call to Hightower. Arrangements, he said, were made for Hightower to meet the CI at a Highway 53 business, located near Whiteley Park.

Mitchell said he gave the CI $100 of "documented buy money for the investigative purchase of crack cocaine" and wired him with an audio recorder.

Further, Mitchell said, he told the CI to stand in front of the business, which he/she was not enter, nor was he/she to talk to anyone. A signal reportedly was to be given when the purchase had been made.

Mitchell, along with Butler County Narcotics Investigator Bradley Santos, SEMO Drug Task Force Officer Scott Johnston and Police Detective Jason Morgan, maintained visual surveillance on the CI.

At about 12:30 p.m., Mitchell said, a Pontiac Grand Prix drove up to the front of the business and stopped.

"We then observed the [CI] approach the passenger side of the vehicle and get into it," Mitchell explained. "The vehicle then parked and after a few minutes, the [CI] exited the vehicle.

"As the [CI] walked away from the vehicle, he/she gave us the signal that the buy had occurred."

The vehicle, Mitchell said, then drove to a parking lot exit, where it was stopped by marked police cars and Johnston and Morgan, who is assigned to the task force.

Mitchell said he and Santos contacted the CI, who "handed me two rocks of crack cocaine, which field tested positive for cocaine base."

At that point, Hightower and Richie, the Pontiac’s driver, were arrested and taken to the police station where both were searched and interviewed, after being told of their rights.

Nothing illegal, according to Mitchell, was found on Richie’s person.

The "buy money used to purchase the crack cocaine" was located on Hightower’s person, Mitchell said.

Hightower, he said, admitted to selling the CI "1 gram of crack cocaine for $100. He admitted he knew he was selling it within a 1,000 feet of government housing, located at Wood and Midland Street, which is one-tenth of a mile away ?

"He stated he didn’t really think about it because he was focused on the money."

Richie, Mitchell said, told officers she went to the business to buy chicken; however, she "never got out of the vehicle. She denied she had done anything wrong."

Mitchell believes Richie had taken an "overt act to assist Hightower in the distribution of crack cocaine to the [CI]," by means of driving him to the location of the alleged sale, which "had taken place within her vehicle."

After their interviews, Hightower and Richie were booked at the Butler County jail and later released pending review of the case by the prosecuting attorney.