Three jailed on drug charges

A search warrant served Tuesday by Cape Girardeau police turned up the makings of a meth lab at an apartment on Broadway and has put three people behind bars on drug charges.

Kristi V. McNeely, 27, and David B. Branum, 45, both of 716 Broadway, Apt. 2, Cape Girardeau, each face four drug-related felonies and one misdemeanor of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Also arrested at the apartment was Patrick A. Keefer, 23, of Sikeston, Mo., who allegedly delivered less than 5 grams of marijuana to a fourth person there.

Police said McNeely and Branum possessed lysergic acid diethylamide, more commonly referred to as LSD.

Inside the home, the couple had several precursory ingredients used in making methamphetamine, including ephedrine, lithium batteries, drain opener, muriatic acid and denatured alcohol, police said.

Officers also found glassware and tubing similar to the kind commonly used in the making of meth and several drug related items, including smoking pipes, burned aluminum foil, plastic baggies, screens and straws.

Keefer's bond was set at $15,000. McNeely's was set at $35,000, and Branum's at $50,000.

McNeely and Branum are prior convicted drug offenders, police say. McNeely was found guilty of possession of methamphetamine on Aug. 9, 2000, in Cape Girardeau County.

Branum's drug convictions in the county go back more than 12 years. He was found guilty of possession of LSD in 1990; and in 1996, he was found guilty of possession of LSD and methamphetamine.