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Citizens' efforts bust drug dealers
SIKESTON - Two Sikeston residents were arraigned on drug charges Tuesday and remain in the Scott County Jail.
Cora K. Looney, 24, and Mario Bean, 26, both of 323 Matthews, were arrested and charged by Scott County Prosecutor Paul Boyd with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of cocaine. Looney is under a $50,000 bond and Bean is under $60,000.
Both are set for preliminary hearings on Sept. 6.
Last Friday morning, the Special Operations Team and detectives served a search warrant at the residence on Matthews Street, said Sikeston Department of Public Safety Director Drew Juden. The warrant was obtained based upon information from area neighbors as well as purchases made from the residence during the past month.
According to the news release, the Special Operations Team hit the house just past 7:30 a.m. Friday and after securing the house, turned it over to detectives to complete a search of the residence. During their search, detectives located a quantity of marijuana packaged for sale and cocaine residue, as well as other paraphernalia used in the sale of drugs.
"This was just a good case of a community effort to rid their neighborhood of drug dealers," Juden said, citing it as an excellent example of what can happen when the community and DPS work together to rid a neighborhood of a problem.
Sometimes it isn't always as quick as people may want it done, but when it is done right, we don't have to worry about them being back so soon, Juden said.
Along with the drugs, DPS and code enforcement officers removed two eyesores from the lot. Earlier, code enforcement officers had given the occupants notice to remove two derelict cars from the property by July 6. DPS officers notified the code officers who responded and towed the vehicles while the search warrant was being executed.
Charges of animal abuse may be filed against the two in connection with a pit bull found tied up in the backyard. The animal was on a three-foot chain in the backyard with no food or water. It was turned over to the Humane Society for care pending review by the Scott County Prosecutor's office.