Southeast Missouri police chief accused of possessing, distributing hydrocodone, Xanax

Federal prosecutor Catherine Hanaway this afternoon announced a federal complaint against the police chief of Steele, Mo., including two counts of possession of narcotics and two counts of intent to distribute.

Hanaway announced the filing of a federal complaint at the new federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau. The complain alleges that Michael "Strawberry" Tomlinson, police chief in the small Pemiscot County town, possessed and sold prescription drugs, primarily hydrocodone and Xanax, following an investigation by federal, state and local authorities.

Tomlinson was arrested this morning by federal authorities following the execution of a search warrant at the police department.

Federal authorities were accompanied by agents from the Bootheel Drug Task Force and Pemiscot County Sheriff's Deputies to execute the arrest warrant. Tomlinson will appear in front of a federal magistrate, sources said. No other officers were named in the investigation.

Sources at the scene say that search warrants were executed on the Steele Police Department and some vehicles. Eyewitnesses say that items were removed from the Police Department. Tomlinson was on duty at the time. According to Steele Chief Investigator Captain Beverly Alexander, although surprised by the events of today, the Police Department will continue perform its duties for the citizens of Steele.

"I hope that the citizens will not allow this incident to reflect on the rest of the police department," Alexander said.

"We are committed to serving the citizens of Steele. I am deeply disturbed by these allegations; however it shows that no one is above the law."

Alexander stated that the department is cooperating fully with the authorities. "The sooner the truth comes out, the sooner we can lay this to rest and move on," she said.