Police arrest five after search for drugs at Dexter residence

DEXTER, Mo. -- A tip to police landed five area residents in the Stoddard County Jail this week and resulted in their being charged with multiple drug-related felonies.

Diane Conner, 30, Carol June McClain, 29, Chasity K. Burnett, 23, and Charles Edgar Stephens, 39, all of Dexter, and Michael Walker, 23, of Pacific, Mo., are charged with attempting to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of meth, possession of a precursor and possession of drug paraphernalia, said Stoddard County deputy Dennis Fowler.

They are being held in the Stoddard County Jail on $125,000 cash bond.

Walker was also wanted on a Stoddard County warrant for failure to appear in court on a tampering charge, Fowler said.

Fowler said Stephens was arrested on Jan. 19 in connection with an alleged meth lab but was released pending review at that time.

Subsequently, Stephens was charged with attempting to manufacturer meth and possession of precursors.

"We had a warrant for him based on that lab with a $125,000 cash bond," Fowler said.

Since his arrest Jan. 19, Fowler said, Stephens had left his residence.

Fowler said, "We got information that he was at this residence on East Stoddard" belonging to Conner.

Members of the sheriff's department and SEMO Drug Task Force searched the residence on Monday.

Fowler said they found suspected methamphetamine, chemicals and paraphernalia.

The suspected contraband was found in the kitchen, living room and bedrooms and in "some of their pockets," Fowler said.

Nothing was "actively cooking," he said, but the chemicals were wet like they had just finished. "There were pills soaked and dried out. That's what we'll have to send to the crime lab to be sure."

All five suspects were at the residence when officers arrived.