Three busted in Poplar Bluff drug sting

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- An intensive investigation by the Poplar Bluff Police Department has resulted in the arrests of two men and a woman suspected of being involved in selling heroin, deputy police chief Jeff Rolland said.

Robert Jamaine Lewis, 39, Sade Lashaye Anderson, 26, both of St. Louis, and Jamar Mario Griffin, 29, who recently had moved from St. Louis to Poplar Bluff, were arrested at 8 p.m. Friday at the Comfort Inn and lodged in the Butler County Jail.

Lewis and Anderson were arrested on suspicion of selling heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia. Anderson also was wanted for parole violation.

Griffin, who lives in the 1500 block of Inman Street, was arrested on two Madison County warrants for speeding and no seat belt.

"Additional charges could be filed against Griffin as the investigation continues," Rolland said. "We are awaiting a report from the crime lab."

The investigation began when complaints were received from local citizens about a heroin ring operating out of Super 8.

"We learned three individuals operating the heroin ring had moved to the Comfort Inn," Rolland said.

City narcotics officers learned Anderson had an active warrant for her arrest and made contact with her in a room at the Comfort Inn.

While she was being arrested on the warrant, police observed marijuana and drug paraphernalia in plain view.

"During a search, approximately 8 grams of pure heroin and $2,005 were seized," Rolland said. "Anderson admitted selling heroin to a number of local residents. Some of them had a $100- to $200-a-day drug habit."

Rolland said the Poplar Bluff Police Department will intensify its efforts in working with the SEMO Drug Task Force "to target individuals who come from outside our area and set up drug shops in our hotels."

"They are targeting teenage kids," Rolland said.

Police chief Danny Whitely said the department has known of heroin coming in from the St. Louis area for quite some time.

"Heroin has direct ties to organized crime," Whiteley said. "It has to be brought in from outside the United States -- from China and Afghanistan," Whitely said.

The Poplar Bluff Police Department will continue to work with Drug Enforcement Agency agents and the St. Louis Police Department Narcotics Division.

"We encourage the public to call the police department anytime you see something suspicious," Whiteley said.