More than 6 pounds of pot seized

More than six pounds of marijuana was seized in a drug bust Wednesday by Cape Girardeau police and the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force.

The stash had a street value of about $10,000, according to a news release from the Cape Girardeau police department.

"It was a pretty big seizure for Cape police," said police spokesman Sgt. Barry Hovis.

Police arrested one suspect in connection with the raid.

Curtis D. Simmons, 36, of 614 Sycamore St., No. 122, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Police served a search warrant at Simmons' house about 6:45 p.m.

They found Simmons sitting on his front porch, a plastic bag containing marijuana on the table beside him, according to the probable-cause statement signed by William J. Bohnert. Police placed him under arrest. A further search revealed one round bundle of marijuana in the right front pocket of Simmons' jeans.

When police searched the home, they found five individually wrapped packages of the drug in a closet of the master bedroom. They uncovered another half pound in three separate bags under the bed.

All the bags were tightly bound in fabric softener sheets and secured with electrical tape.

According the sworn statement, Simmons allegedly confessed that he planned to sell the drug in small amounts.

Simmons told police he'd purchased the drugs at $950 per pound from someone in Arizona, according to the sworn statement.

Simmons is a prior offender, having pleaded guilty to two driving while intoxicated charges in Cape Girardeau County. Bond was set at $75,000.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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