Drug officer robbed during Cape investigation

A Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force officer was robbed Tuesday night during an investigation in a southside Cape Girardeau neighborhood.

Brandon D. Tipler, 22, of New Madrid, Mo., and Shawn M. Young, 26, of Howardsville, Mo., were later charged with first-degree robbery. Three other suspects, Shanda M. Berry, 20, of Cape Girardeau, Raymond C. Jackson, 26, of Sikeston, Mo., and Kimberly J. Allen, 21, of Cape Girardeau, face drug charges for trying to sell a pound of marijuana, according to court documents.

When the officer encountered Tipler and Young Tuesday night, they spoke for a while, then demanded his cash and threatened to shoot him, said Kevin Glaser of the SEMO Drug Task Force.

"They made an inference that they had a gun," Glaser said. "But they did not show it, and in fact, they did not have a gun."

The plain-clothed officer gave them his money, and the men drove away. Police were alerted, and after a few minutes of searching the duo were arrested near the intersection of Southern Expressway and Kingshighway, Glaser said.

Tipler and Young are held in lieu of $75,000 bail each. Tipler was also arrested on a state warrant for parole violation.

Though Berry, Jackson and Allen were involved in the drug investigation, Glaser said, they apparently didn't know a robbery was about to take place and were not charged with it.

Instead, Berry faces two felonies for attempted delivery of marijuana and one felony for conspiracy to distribute marijuana. She remains in custody on a $50,000 bond. Jackson also faces a count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and is being held on a $50,000 bond. Allen was charged with attempted delivery of marijuana and has a $30,000 bond.

Glaser could not comment on the drug investigation the officer was conducting, nor did he release any more details about Tuesday night's incident.

The five suspects appeared for initial arraignment Thursday in Jackson in the courtroom of Associate Circuit Judge Gary Kamp. A preliminary hearing for each was set for 3 p.m. July 30. They are being represented by attorneys from the state public defender's office.

mwells@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160