Five arrested in Sikeston drug bust

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A joint investigation between the Drug Enforcement Agency, SEMO Drug Task Force and Sikeston Department of Public Safety netted five arrests Tuesday.

Investigators from the three agencies observed drug transactions by the five individuals, according to a news release from Sgt. Jim McMillen, public information officer with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety.

Search warrants were obtained and arrest teams went to take the suspects into custody. Just before serving the warrants, the five suspects split up. The arrest teams divided their efforts and were able to capture all five in Sikeston, McMillen said.

Arrested were Joe Alexander, 22, of Sikeston, on suspicion of first-degree trafficking; Sylvester Tate Jr., 30, of Essex, Mo., on suspicion of first-degree trafficking; Robert Hester, 34, of Lilbourn, Mo., on suspicion of second-degree trafficking; Mario Evans, 30, of Charleston, Mo., on suspicion of possession with intent to distribute; and Zacobey Moore, 24, of Charleston, on suspicion of possession with intent to distribute. All were being held in the Scott County Jail on $100,000 cash-only bond.

When taking the suspects into custody, investigators found more than 50 grams of crack cocaine, 5 grams of powder cocaine and close to $3,000 in the suspects' possession. All five were already on probation or parole for narcotics and one was on federal supervised release for cocaine base, McMillen said.

In conjunction with this investigation, another warrant was served later Tuesday in Stoddard County. There, officers with the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol served a warrant at the home of a subject from the earlier arrest and uncovered more crack cocaine, marijuana and more than $2,000 in cash.