Traffic stop leads to five drug arrests within five hours

An early Tuesday morning traffic stop led police to arrest five drug suspects within five hours.

Cape Girardeau County Prosecutors charged Dale J. Howard, 31, of 259 N. Park St., upstairs apartment, with one class A felony count of trafficking a controlled substance. He is being held on a $50,000 cash or surety bond and faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

Also charged with one felony count of possession were Dorislyn I. Gaines, 35, of 259 Park St., and Jackee M. Nicholson, 36, of 100 S. West End Blvd. They are each being held on a $5,000 cash or surety bond and face up to seven years in prison if convicted.

Two male suspects were arrested and released, pending filing of formal charges.

Patrolman Rob Watson conducted a traffic stop at 1 a.m. on 1989 Oldsmobile at Sprigg Street and Themis Street. The officer observed that the driver, Gaines, had hidden a baggie of crack cocaine under her upper lip. Gaines initially claimed she was chewing dental floss but eventually spit it out, Selzer said.

Officers also found in the passenger's, Nicholson's, sock four small baggies of crack cocaine, he said. Under questioning at the police station, both suspects identified their dealer as Howard, who lives above Gaines, Selzer said.

Nine officers served a search warrant of Howard's residence at 6 a.m., Selzer said. Howard and two male suspects were arrested.

Seventeen baggies of crack cocaine were found, along with a plate with cocaine residue and small baggies commonly used for crack cocaine, Selzer said.