One arrested as 200 pot plants seized in Poplar Bluff

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Authorities seized about 200 suspected marijuana plants from inside a Poplar Bluff home Tuesday morning.

At about 10:15 a.m., Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley was contacted by the landlord, who had gone to 921 Pershing St. to collect past due rent from his tenant, identified as Glendell Dwayne Shoemake, according to Poplar Bluff police detective Jason Morgan, who is assigned to the SEMO Drug Task Force.

The landlord, Morgan said, reported he had unsuccessfully tried to contact Shoemake several times over the last few days.

"[He] stated he entered the residence to conduct an inspection of the condition of the property," Morgan said. "As a result of the inspection, the landlord reported seeing marijuana plants, lights hanging from the ceiling and exhaust pipes going through the ceiling into the attic."

A search warrant was executed, Morgan said, and officers found the residence was primarily used for growing marijuana.

It didn't appear anyone was living in the residence, which had no refrigerator, Morgan said.

"The living room seemed normal with a couch, coffee table, [television] and stereo," he said. "That was the only normal room in the house. Every other room was modified for growing marijuana."

Morgan said Shoemake, 56, of St. Charles, Mo., was arrested later in the afternoon by police patrolmen Shonna Parrent and Jim Gerber during a traffic stop.