Police arrest two Sikeston residents in crack cocaine bust Friday

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Sikeston Department of Public Safety officers confiscated about $700,000 worth of crack cocaine in two residences Friday and arrested two people Saturday in connection with the bust.

Capt. Mark Crocker said Monday the arrests and drug bust came after a two-week investigation by the department's Special Operations Group and detectives.

In custody are Tomicka S. Davis, 29, and Robert Jones, 31, both of Sikeston.

Davis is charged with Class B second degree trafficking. If convicted of the charge, she faces up to 15 years in prison. She is being held on a $75,000 bond.

Jones is charged with Class A second degree trafficking, which carries a punishment of 30 years in prison or life imprisonment if convicted. Jones' bond is set at $150,000.

According to the probable cause statement, Sikeston police officers appeared at both Davis' and Jones' residences with search warrants between 9 and 9:25 a.m. Friday. After finding what appeared to be a piece of crack cocaine on a television in Davis' bedroom, officers arrested her and conducted a search of the bedroom uncovering 2.6 grams of crack cocaine in clothing in the closet, the report said.

Under her bed police found a green plate with visible white residue, plastic bags with the corners missing and two boxes of plastic bags, the report said.

Davis confessed to detectives that she had been selling drugs for Jones, according to the police.

Police forced their way into Jones' house when no one answered the door, the report said.

Jones was found in the laundry room where police said it appeared he was hiding something behind the washer.

Police removed a sock from behind the washer containing $365 in cash, two bags of crack cocaine that had been individually wrapped and drug paraphernalia, the report said.

The total amount of crack cocaine uncovered in Jones' residence was about 16.4 grams, the report said.

At the police station, Jones admitted to selling the crack cocaine to help pay bills and child support, the probable-cause statement said.

The report said Jones has had 15 felony arrests, with seven resulting in convictions for burglary, stealing and distribution of a controlled substance.

Davis pleaded guilty to misdemeanor stealing in 1997 and passing bad checks in 2002. She completed supervised probation for both convictions.

Crocker said the charges may go to the federal level considering the amount of crack cocaine involved."It makes us feel pretty good that we had an impact on some dealers," Crocker said.

carel@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127