5 arrested in Kennett K2 raid

KENNETT, Mo. -- Five people were arrested Thursday morning during a large drug raid involving dozens of officers on 9th Street and Main Street in Kennett. The arrests follow a year-long investigation, which included 30 non-fatal overdoses from K2 synthetic marijuana, according to the Kennett Police Department

A rash of police vehicles, including a large armored truck, filled the scenes at around 7 a.m. Thursday. Around 50 officers surrounded the area and brought the suspects in custody without incident. Three suspects were arrested at 206, 210 and 216 West 9th streets, while the fourth was arrested at 708 North Main. A fifth person was also arrested.

The suspects were identified as Jackie Anthoy, 36, Byron Norris, 23, Shanika Arnett, 22, Cornelius Middleton, 36, and Pamela Simms, 33. Middleton is from Hayti, while the other four suspects are all from Kennett. Anthony and Norris are charged with Possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute within 2000 ft. of a school. Norris also faces a charge of possession of a controlled substance--cocaine--while inside a correctional facility.

Arnett and Middleton both face charges of possession of synthetic marijuana, while Simms was arrested on a Kennett municipal warrant for failure to obey a judge's order on a shoplifting charge.

Officers reportedly collected an undisclosed amount of K2 and other controlled substances, along with paraphernalia that may have been for the use and sale of K2. The names of the suspects, and the charges they face, have not yet been released.

Police say they had received several complaints of "narcotic activity" at the 200 block of 9th Street, which rests directly across from Jones Park near South Elementary School. Following a string of overdoses, investigators focused on that area as a prime source of distribution of the drug.

In a statement released by the Kennett Police Department, officers served three search warrants on 9th Street and four other consent searches in what the department called "drug ridden apartments." Another warrant was served at the 700 block of Main Street.

The raid included officers from various agencies, including the Kennett Police Department, the Dunklin and Pemiscot County Sheriff's departments, the Kennett Fire Department, local first responders, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Caruthersville Police Department.

Police added that investigation into the sale and distribution of K2 in Kennett is ongoing, and more arrested are expected to follow in the coming days.