POLICE RAID THREE FLEA MARKETS FOR FAKES

Three people were arrested and thousands of counterfeit items seized Saturday after officers from several police agencies searched three Sikeston flea markets, three storage facilities at Dexter and a private residence in Stoddard County.

"They (the police) came in here like it was some big thing," said Kim Byrd, owner of Tradewinds on W. Malone Avenue, one of the flea markets that was raided.

Officers used bullhorns to instruct all customers to leave before the entrance was barricaded.

"No vendors could leave, and nobody could pack up or sell anything," said Byrd.

A press release from the Sikeston police said the searches were a result of a four-month undercover investigation by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety and the Missouri State Highway Patrol into the manufacture and sale of counterfeit clothing carrying such brand names as Tommy Hilfiger, Tommy Girl, Old Navy, Guess, Rolex, Ralph Lauren, Polo Sport, FUBU, Calvin Klein, Nike and Oakley. A New York City representative of some of the companies accompanied officers and helped identify counterfeit items, police said.

The search produced over 200,000 pieces of counterfeit clothing, ball hats, watches and sunglasses with an estimated value of over $4 million, according to police. The company representative said this was the biggest seizure that he had seen in Missouri.

Byrd, as well as other flea market owners, leases booth space to vendors. What the owners know is illegal they do not let vendors sell, she said.

Although officers made a walk-through of all vendors, their attention was focused on two booths which carried name-brand shirts and sunglasses.

Two adults were arrested at Tradewinds and one at Trade Center on East Malone. Merchandise and vehicles were confiscated. No one was arrested at Trade Fair on Highway H in Miner.

Sikeston police were not releasing the names of those arrested Sunday. The investigation is continuing and more arrests and property seizures are expected, police said.

Byrd felt the raid was both unfair and sad. It hurt the business of other vendors who were not involved. Witnesses reported as few as 12 officers and as many as 40. Police dogs were also on the scene.

Byrd said one of the suspects was "very trustworthy. I'd even leave my purse with him."

"One officer could have come in, asked him to forfeit his merchandise and come with the officer and he would have," she said. "They didn't have to come in and shut everything down."

Byrd was also upset with television coverage of the event because customers who had purchased name-brand clothing at Tradewinds were told they had been ripped off.

"People know what they are buying," said Byrd. "Fake is cheaper, they know that. Besides, this kind of stuff is available all over the country on street corners."

Allen Cook and Craig Lynn, both of Scott City, were vendors at Tradewinds Saturday. Although the raid stopped sales for almost two hours, business was still good.

"Some people went out and just sat outside the gate," said Cook. "As soon as the police left, they came back in."

Lynn reported seeing some of the regulars after everything was over, but there were also a new group of customers.

"I think some people came just because they were curious and wanted to see what went on," he said. Since they were already there, they went ahead and looked over the merchandise as did one of Lynn's customers.

One customer told Lynn he and his neighbor had been at Hardee's and his neighbor asked if he wanted to go to the flea market. He didn't and went on home. A few minutes later the neighbor pulled into his friend's drive and said something was going on at the flea market. "I jumped into his truck to come over and see what was going on," he told Lynn.

Lynn and Cook reported good sales, but they had to stay a couple of hours longer than normal.

Byrd didn't feel the raid really had that much effect on the trade.

"Last weekend was really good," she said. "People are just ready to get out and do something."