Sheriff buys marijuana, arrests four for drug distribution

WYATT, Mo. — A person wanting to sell marijuana picked the wrong buyer.

Four area residents, including one from Cape Girardeau, face drug distribution charges after an investigation during which one of the suspects reportedly sold drugs directly to Mississippi County Sheriff Cory Hutcheson.

An investigation began Thursday evening when the sheriff’s office received information Wyatt resident Jerrica Taylor, 23, was seeking a buyer for some marijuana.

In response to that tip, Hutcheson contacted Taylor via text message posing as a prospective buyer, and she offered to sell him some marijuana, according to a news release from Mississippi County chief deputy Branden Caid.

A short time later, Hutcheson met Taylor in Wyatt, where he learned she needed the money up front, then would pick up the marijuana from her supplier.

Hutcheson provided her with money bearing prerecorded serial numbers, then followed Taylor to Charleston, Missouri, where he watched as Jimmie Lindell Jr. pulled in and delivered to Taylor a large bag of marijuana.

“Following that transaction, Taylor asked the sheriff to follow her to a different location because she feared being caught by law enforcement,” Caid said. “Hutcheson agreed and followed her to a well-lit gas station, where Taylor delivered the marijuana and was permitted to leave.”

At that time, Hutcheson and deputy Mike Borders conducted a vehicle stop on the car driven by Lindell, Caid reported.

During a search of the vehicle, deputies found the money provided to Taylor and a large quantity of marijuana.

Lindell, 34, of Wyatt as well as passengers Quinton Strayhorn, 21, of Charleston and Makalan Cleaves, 19, of Cape Girardeau, were arrested and taken to the Mississippi County Detention Center. Taylor was arrested a short time later.

Taylor is charged with felony delivery of marijuana. Her bond is set at $15,000.

Lindell is charged with delivery of a controlled substance and is being held in lieu of $50,000 bond.

Strayhorn and Cleaves each are charged with delivery of a controlled substance, and each are jailed on $15,000 bond.

Pertinent address:

Wyatt, Mo.