Poplar Bluff drug sweep nets 11 arrests

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. ­-- Ten Poplar Bluff residents were arrested Wednesday on grand-jury indictments for drug-related offenses as part of the third multi-jurisdictional roundup held in the last six months.

Members of SEMO Drug Task Force, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Poplar Bluff Police Department and Butler County Sheriff's Department began serving warrants about 4 p.m. Wednesday, according to patrol Sgt. Mark McClendon, who led the drug task force.

The warrants were the result of indictments handed down by a Butler County grand jury last summer.

"The investigation centered in the Poplar Bluff area," McClendon said. "The investigation has been ongoing for approximately two years, and in total, over 125 people were charged."

Most of the warrants were for sale of a controlled substance, "meth, heroin, prescription pills, the gamut," with the majority of the cases stemming from undercover buys, McClendon said.

For the roundup, officers were divided into three teams, with each having about seven people they were looking to arrest, McClendon said. About half the suspects were arrested, he said.

One additional person was taken into custody after officers "developed probable cause to make an arrest on her (Whitney N. Retherford)," said McClendon, who indicated it was an alleged possession case.

Poplar Bluff residents arrested on Butler County warrants for sale of a controlled substance were Bennie L. Holloway, 69; Mark A. Buchanan, 31; Ladonna A. McCain, 31; Miranda J. Gregory, 33; Susan T. Foushee, 64; Aaron P. Dennis, 20; and Shawn A. Jackson, 21.

Also arrested were:

• Matthew D. Holmes, 31, of Poplar Bluff, Butler County warrant for possession of a controlled substance;
• Samuel D. Brown, 26, of Poplar Bluff, Butler County warrant for sale of a controlled substance, two Poplar Bluff municipal failure-to-appear warrants for driving while suspended and making a false report and on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine);
• John L. Beckham, 40, of Poplar Bluff, Butler County warrant for sale of a controlled substance and a Poplar Bluff municipal failure-to-appear warrant for peace disturbance and no insurance; and
• Retherford, 25, Poplar Bluff, suspicion of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

All 11 were booked at the Butler County Jail and are being held on bonds ranging from $25,000 to $100,000.

Two other wanted people, McClendon said, were found to be in prison and have been or will be served with the warrants.

They are identified as Andrew C. Hightower, in the Tipton Correctional Center, and Jerry Clay III, who is in the Boonville Correctional Center.

Hightower is charged with distribution of a controlled substance. Clay is charged with sale of a controlled substance.

Two others had been arrested on the indictments.

John David Carter, 51, of Poplar Bluff remains in the Butler County Jail after a Jan. 8 arrest on a warrant for sale of a controlled substance.

John Robert McClanahan, 33, of Poplar Bluff is free on bond after being arrested Dec. 7 on a warrant for sale of a controlled substance.

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, Mo.