Sikeston police, drug task force arrest several in drug sweep

SIKESTON, Mo. - Several people are in custody following two sting operations by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety and the SEMO Drug Task Force, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported.

The undercover operations to arrest people purchasing methamphetamine precursors such as pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in manufacturing meth, began in February, according to a news release from Sikeston DPS.

In a four-hour period on the first day, seven people were arrested by Sikeston Public Safety and the SEMO DTF. These arrests came from four vehicle stops after police developed probable cause to believe the subjects were purchasing ingredients to manufacture methamphetamine.

In addition, a full meth lab was recovered along with two partial labs. Police also recovered some finished product of methamphetamine from these stops.

Two weeks later Sikeston Public Safety and the SEMO DTF ran the sting again. This time they stopped four vehicles after developing probable cause and six people were arrested and charged with crimes involving methamphetamine production.

Charges filed through Scott County included:

• Rebecca Payne, 41, of Doniphan, Mo., manufacturing a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance, $100,000 cash-only bond;
• William Graham, 30, of Doniphan, manufacturing a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance, $100,000 cash-only bond;
• Tina Pipkin, 37, of Marston, Mo., attempting to manufacture a controlled substance and possession of a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine, $50,000 cash or surety bond;
• Caleb Cameron, 19 of Marston, attempting to manufacture a controlled substance and possession of a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine, $75,000 cash or surety bond; and
• Mary Vinson, 44, of East Prairie, Mo., outstanding warrants through Scott County, five counts of "doctor shopping," $25,000 cash or surety bond.

Charges filed through New Madrid County include:

• Tammy Umfleet, 50, of Portageville, Mo., attempting to manufacture a controlled substance and possession of a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine, $10,000 cash-only bond;
• Louis Ashby, 45, of Portageville, attempting to manufacture a controlled substance and possession of a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine, $10,000 cash-only bond;
• James Bula, 50, of Portageville, attempting to manufacture a controlled substance and possession of a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine, $10,000 cash or surety bond;
• Ladonna Conner, 28, of Broseley, Mo., possession of a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine, $2,500 cash or surety bond;
• Glen Yandell Jr., 24, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., possession of a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine, $2,500 cash or surety bond;
• Kevin Wallace, 24, of Poplar Bluff, possession of a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine, $2,500 cash or surety bond;
• Stacy Darnell, 32, of Poplar Bluff, possession of a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine, $2,500 cash or surety bond.

Monitoring the sales of pseudoephedrine at local retailers is one way to combat the meth problem, said DPS Chief Drew Juden.

"Doing this in the two stings listed above led to several arrests and the discovery of meth labs and finished product. At the conclusion of these two stings, Sikeston Public Safety learned that all of the arrestees were from areas other than Sikeston. In addition, over 85 percent of the pseudoephedrine sales in Sikeston were sold to 'out of town' people," he said.

According to Juden, quantity is the reason officers are seeing these criminals traveling to Sikeston to purchase pseudoephedrine. "Many travel great distances from their homes and buy this key ingredient. Sometimes they are traveling in large groups to obtain more pseudoephedrine for their production," he said.