Law enforcement cracking down on area drug trade

Two search warrants executed Sunday night by members of the Scott City Police Department and the Scott County Sheriff's Department resulted in the arrests of two local residents, chief Don Cobb announced at Monday's Scott City Council meeting.

The police department was actually approved for four search warrants (one warrant expired before it was activated) within a two-week period, which is unusual for Scott City, Cobb said.

He credited the work of local police officers Wayne Hampton and Frank Stoffregen for developing information that led to the search warrants.

A search warrant for Timothy Burke's residence at 921 S. Seventh St. West was issued two weeks ago, at which time officers found a felony amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Burke was not present at the time of the search warrant, but was awaiting charges of felony possession with intent to distribute when officers were granted another search warrant for the residence based on more information that became available.

Sunday night, officers executed the second search warrant of Burke's residence, at which time he was arrested and additionally charged with possession of methamphetamine.

Burke was released on a $25,000 bond Monday for his first set of charges. Charges stemming from the second search warrant are still pending.

Officers also executed a search warrant Sunday night for David Baker's residence at 2800 Woodland, No. 43.

Baker was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor possession of marijuana and felony possession of cocaine. He is currently free pending charges.

"Scott City is a great place, but in any city you'll have a population that causes problems," Cobb said.

Mayor Tim Porch said Scott City was going to aggressively go after illicit drug use and sales within Scott City.

"Now we're back at full force and the chief's back, we're going to take care of these situations," Porch said.

kalfisi@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182