New Madrid County roundup of suspected drug offenders leads to the arrest of 32

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Thirty-two residents from New Madrid, Scott and Dunklin counties were arrested Friday in a roundup of suspected drug offenders.

An undercover drug investigation by the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force centered primarily in New Madrid County were conducted over a one-year period, according to a news release from Sgt. Kevin Glaser of the SEMO Drug Task Force.

Those arrested were charged with numerous counts of distribution of controlled substances including marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and assorted prescription medications.

Assisting the Drug Task Force in serving the warrants were the Missouri State Highway Patrol, New Madrid County Sheriff's Office, New Madrid City Police, Lilbourn Police, Morehouse Police, Portageville Police and the Sikeston Department of Public Safety's Special Operations Group.

Officers began serving the warrants about 7 a.m. Friday. By noon, officers had located 29 of 34 original suspects and had arrested three additional individuals on drug-related charges stemming from the original arrest warrants.

Officers also conducted two search warrants based on evidence found during the arrests. Officers located about two pounds of marijuana at a residence in Kewanee where one of the search warrants was served.

Arrested were:

• Sikeston residents charged with distribution of a controlled substance: Doyle S. Deroush and Robert L. Hester (3 counts).
• New Madrid residents charged with distribution of a controlled substance: Melven Burgess; Lori Brown; Garrick Madison (two counts); Felawn Smith (two counts); Michael Walker (five counts); Terrel C. Williams; Printice D. Willis; Vanite Tipler (two counts); and Quinton Sykes.
• Portageville residents charged with distribution of a controlled substance: Jessica Birdwell (two counts); Charles Brown; Shawn Chidester; Darryl R. Hayes (two counts); Michael A. Holmes; Glen Johnson (three counts); Debrorah Perkins; Debrorah Recker; and Timothy Wahl.

Also arrested from Portageville on federal drug violations were Sylvester King and Barry Brown Jr. (three counts).

• Marston residents charged with distribution of a controlled substance: Leonard Long (two counts); Shauendale Maxwell (three counts); Robert Nelson; and Antwan Walton (two counts).

-n Kewanee residents charged with distribution of a controlled substance: Joseph Jones (three counts); and Steven J. Jones.

Also arrested were Kevin Brown of Kennett, distribution of a controlled substance; and Tyler Sutton of Hayti, second degree assault and armed criminal action.

As of noon Friday warrants were issued for the arrests of the following individuals who had not been located: Daniel R. Lucas of Campbell, Jimmy Gooden Jr. of Kennett, Les Razer of Risco and Xavier G. Matthews and Kell Lee Mikel of New Madrid.

Anyone with information on the location of these individuals should contact the New Madrid County Sheriff's Office.