Cape man faces trafficking, weapons charges

A Cape Girardeau man faces multiple charges after authorities found 3.6 pounds of methamphetamine in boxes labeled as candy, police said.

Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force officers arrested Brandon Ray Hamilton, 32, after executing a search warrant Tuesday at 1467 Kingsway Drive.

The Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Hamilton with second-degree trafficking, unlawful use of a weapon and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Trafficking is a class A felony carrying a minimum prison term of 10 years.

In a postal package, officers found three boxes labeled “Ring Pops,” each containing vacuum-sealed bags filled with methamphetamine, police said.

Eight task force officers from several local law-enforcement agencies served the search warrant about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Along with the packages, one of which field-tested positive for methamphetamine, officers recovered smaller amounts of methamphetamine throughout Hamilton’s residence, according to a probable-cause statement filed by task-force officer William Sullivan.

Three prescription bottles containing oxycodone, hydrocodone and amphetamine pills were found in a safe in a bedroom with $8,000 and guns, Sullivan wrote.

Officers found 15 guns, including handguns and long guns, throughout the residence in safes in the bedroom and basement, a basement closet and in the bedroom, according to the statement.

Knowingly possessing a firearm while knowingly possessing a controlled substance constitutes unlawful use of a weapon, according to the warrant.

After Hamilton was read his Miranda rights, he said he uses methamphetamine and had used it the day before, Sullivan wrote.

Hamilton said he thought the postal packages were sweat shirts from Amazon.com, according to the statement.

Hamilton did not have a previous felony conviction, Sullivan wrote.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

1467 Kingsway Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo.