More than half of suspects indicted last week in custody

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- More than half of the individuals indicted last week by Stoddard County's grand jury on drug-related charges are now in custody.

The indictments are the result of "multiple investigations" by the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department and SEMO Drug Task Force from mostly December and early January, said Stoddard County deputy Dennis Fowler.

Those investigations included "our continuous anhydrous surveillance that we do," Fowler said. "The others were methamphetamine informant/meth lab charges."

Fowler said another investigation into marijuana distribution started out with high school students "on the street, and we worked our way up the chain."

Grand jury members handed down 22 indictments against 13 area residents Jan. 16.

The most recent arrests came Thursday when Kelly Ross, 31, and Tina Akins, both of Dexter were taken into custody, Fowler said.

The grand jury charged Ross with distribution of a controlled substance, Fowler said. Akins was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, attempting to manufacture methamphetamine and possession of pseudoephedrine.

Others arrested so far include:

Roger J. Hanley, 24, of Caruthersville and Steven Lee Guy, 25, of Aid were arrested earlier this week. They were charged with attempting to steal anhydrous ammonia and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Glenn Wyatt of Dexter was already in the Stoddard County Jail when the warrant was served on him Friday. He was charged with distribution of a controlled substance, first-degree child endangerment, possession of more than 35 grams of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.