Two men arrested on drug charges in Perry County

Two Perryville, Missouri, men were in custody Thursday on drug charges.

Darnell Brownlee, 51, and Steven M. Scamell, 31, were arrested after the SEMO Drug Task Force, Perryville Police Department and Perry County, Missouri, Sheriff's Department executed a pair of search warrants Tuesday and Wednesday, according to a news release from the Perry County Sheriff's Department.

Brownlee was charged with possession of marijuana, unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, tampering with evidence in a felony prosecution and resisting arrest after officers searched his apartment on St. Joseph Street, the release stated.

Scamell faces charges of heroin distribution, marijuana distribution, unlawful use of drug paraphernalia and five counts of possession of a controlled substance after officers searched his residence on Dala Street, according to the release.

Reached by telephone Thursday, Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf said additional charges are pending against Brownlee.

Steven Scamell

"They've been peddling quite a bit. We've still got some warrants coming down for Mr. Brownlee," who recently sold drugs to an undercover officer, Schaaf said.

Brownlee, who is on parole in connection with another case, swallowed some evidence, Schaaf said.

"We've not charged him with it, but Mr. Brownlee swallowed probably a gram of heroin," he said.

Brownlee was unharmed by the drug, Schaaf said.

"Apparently they took him someplace and removed it," he said.

Schaaf said the cases against Brownlee and Scamell are unrelated.

Both suspects have had prior run-ins with law enforcement, online court records show.

In June 2011, Brownlee was fined $200 after pleading guilty to possession of marijuana. In August of the same year, he pleaded guilty to delivering or attempting to deliver a controlled substance at a jail and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, and in November 2011, he pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to five years in prison.

Last month, Brownlee was charged with possession of marijuana and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.

Scamell's most recent brush with the law was in May, when he pleaded guilty to pursuing, taking or killing wildlife illegally, a misdemeanor for which he was fined $24.50. He also pleaded guilty to underage alcohol possession or purchase in 2001 and was fined $250.

Schaaf said police caught Scamell with multiple prescription pills for which he had no prescription, including a drug typically prescribed to heroin addicts to help them break their addiction.

"It's supposed to help you get off of the others," Schaaf said.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Perryville, MO