Tapia was also delivering 10 pounds of meth worth tens of thousands of dollars every two weeks to one of the biggest meth rings ever to plaguesouthwest Missouri. To read part two of our investigation, Life After Meth, click here. Detectives made the largest every buy ever, 8.8lbs of meth. Araujo, Walker, Thurmond, Schroeder, Meyers, Hack, Bechtel, Laws, and Parton also are charged together in one count of being drug users in possession of multiple firearms and ammunition. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. KC Metro Strike Force The superseding indictment replaces an earlier indictment and includes additional defendants. An official website of the United States government. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Reece said LSD and ecstasy aren't the highest priorities for his investigators, simply because they don't see much of either drug. In 2005, there were 630 drug related arrests. We invite you to share your journey of recovery and be featured on Recovery Connection! Lt. Eric Reece with the Springfield Police Department, said seizure numbers are generally a good reflection of drug use in the community, and it's clear that meth and heroin from out of state have made inroads in Springfield. Major Springfield Drug Bust Part of Year-Long Investigation There have, however, been some standout years for LSD and ecstasy seizures. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. In 2018, 32 people died. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). The first indictment came Dec. 10, 2014. More guns and more meth were found. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Gulluni, Captain [Brian] Keenan and all of our brave and dedicated 'men and women in blue' for their continued efforts to rid our streets of these 'poison individuals' and their 'poison products' and weapons. Methamphetamine has devastating effects on drug users and can lead to memory loss, "meth mouth," overdose and death. The OCDETF program is the centerpiece of the Department of Justices drug supply reduction strategy. A spokeswoman for Cox Hospital also said the medical staff has not noticed an increase this year in cocaine-related hospital visits. KOLR 10 Investigates: Is Missouri still the meth capital? Robert Patruno with leading the stash house investigation, and said the broader investigation into the Holyoke-based drug ringcontinues. So if you wake up and you dont already have something, thats what youre gonna do. Kansas City, MO 64106, Telephone:(816) 426-3122 Press Releases | DEA.gov biggest drug bust in springfield, missouri - shubhramohanty.com COPS Special Edition Springfield, Missouri Drug Busts - YouTube Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( (null!=i&&i!=o.tag||null!=t&&t!=o.priority)}),gform.hooks[o][n]=r)}}); document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); How to Choose The Right Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program, Addiction Treatment Focused on Health And Wellness in FL (Florida). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Bobbie Lynn King, 51, and Patricia Gail Nelson, also known as Mama Pat, 60, both of Kansas City, Missouri; Michael Glen Zieger, also known as Lees Summit Mike, 43, of Lees Summit, Missouri; Amanda Leigh Watson, 33, of St. Joseph, Missouri; and Logan Tanner Laws, 28, of Shelbina, Missouri, were arrested on July 23, 2020, after being charged in a six-count superseding indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City on July 21, 2020. You wake up and your primary mission of the day is find that way to get high. In terms of drugs, property andmoney seized, arrestsmade, and dealers sentenced, it was one of the most successful operations in recent years. 27, 2018, to Nov. 14, 2019. An official website of the United States government. Christopher Brian Rogan, 44, no known address, was also charged in the superseding indictment and is a fugitive from justice. In total over the last six years, the Springfield Police Department's investigative units seized 251,520grams of marijuana, 81,713 grams of meth, 1,122grams of cocaine, 4,751 grams of heroin, 6,903 grams of LSD and 372 grams of ecstasy. Banasik told the News-Leader last yearthe Springfield market hadbeen inundated with high-grade marijuana from Colorado and other states where the drug is legal for recreational use. And in 2019, the medical examiner reports 67 people, more than double the year before, died from meth in Greene County. The officer. "This significant seizure not only puts a stop to this distribution ring, but also shows that our Narcotics Unit continues to get deadly drugs off the street, while arresting the right people," Police Commissioner John Barbieri said in a statement. (KY3) - Officers with the Springfield Police Department's Special Investigations Unit made a large drug bust after serving a search warrant on August 6. (WWLP) - Springfield Police have arrested two men and seized heroin, two rifles and more than $16,000 in cash Wednesday evening . Posted: Mar 3 . The majority of those entering treatment were 21-25 years olds. Wheeler allegedly possessed a Sig Sauer .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol, an Izhmash .308-caliber semi-automatic rifle, and a Hi-Point 9mm semi-automatic pistol on Nov. 14, 2019. Flesch said she would wave to "tattoo lady," but she never waved back. A Kansas City, Mo., man who was arrested last night during the police standoff in the 2300 block of Blue Ridge Boulevard has been charged in federal court for offenses A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine after leading law enforcement officers on a high-speed A Joplin and Webb City, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for drug trafficking and illegally possessing firearms. In addition to the criminal conspiracy, Hicks is charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Howell County and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. It included 12 people. Additionally, Rory Dale Bechtel, 37, of Kansas City, Mo. Shubhra Mohanty June 09, 2022. The federal indictment alleges that each of the nine defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Howell, Greene, and Texas counties from Dec. 31, 2015, to June 21, 2019. On an average weekday, hecould look out his front picture window and see children running around themulti-color playground of Sunshine Elementary School directly across the street. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. What do the orange, green dots on my iPhone mean? MSHP trooper recovers 88 pounds of meth from traffic stop in Saline County, Mo. Feds say 'large-scale' meth dealer gambled millions at Downstream Casino Glosson was allegedly in possession of a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol on Oct. 23, 2019. The News-Leader obtaineddata from the Springfield Police Department on how much heroin, meth, cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy and LSD its investigators have seized over the last six years. The only thing that connected them was meth. The trooper found 88 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop on Interstate 70 at mile marker 79, about 50 miles west of Columbia. Bedell allegedly possessed a .223-caliber semi-automatic pistol without a serial number, a Springfield Armory .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol, and a Ruger .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol on Sept. 12, 2019. Thankful he lived to tell the story, the thought of rock bottom brings tears to Pickens eyes. (Six other defendants have been indicted in separate, but related, cases). In 2004, data from the Missouri State Highway Patrol shows meth back then most likely came from an at-home lab. With 189 in Greene County, that was second only to Jefferson County near St. Louis. COPS Special Edition Springfield, Missouri Drug Busts - YouTube 0:00 / 22:54 COPS Special Edition Springfield, Missouri Drug Busts SRL Images Channel 2.08K subscribers Subscribe. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. I did my residency in Cleveland, Ohio, and over four years I didnt see one patient on meth, Jones said. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. In 2010, 4,341 people were admitted to addiction treatment facilities for heroin addiction. Flesch specifically recalled a man who rode in on a motorcycle and sported a blue or purple mohawk. But now it just seems that theyre acutely intoxicated and they come in with altered mental status.. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Updated: Apr 15, 2021 / 07:37 PM EDT. Springfield Police seize more than 2,300 bags of heroin, two - WWLP 673 people were treated for cocaine/crack addiction who used the drug other than smoking it. He said the reason investigators are seizing more of the drug is because the current system of dealers bringing meth in from out of state lends itself to multi-pound seizures, like the one on Feb. 29. (KY3) - Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers seized 110 pounds of marijuana Saturday morning from a traffic stop in Greene County. His family and friends apparently couldn't believe it. Wed see explosions, burns, other traumatic injuries. The largest demographic receiving treatment for opiate addiction was in the 21-25 year old age group. According to a survey from the Missouri Department of Mental Health, teen marijuana use in Greene County has fluctuated over the last four years. Other family and friends noted his generosity, saying he supported his own family and others financially even helping pay for the schooling of the son of a family friend after his father walked out on them. In some states, the number of meth lab seizures has been significantly reduced. Pickens struggled with addiction for about 16 years, but never bothered to find out where his drugs were coming from. DEA makes major meth bust in St. Louis | FOX 2 Ortega, Hicks, and Griffin would also be required to forfeit to the government a money judgment representing the proceeds obtained as a result of their participation in the alleged drug-trafficking conspiracy. var gform;gform||(document.addEventListener("gform_main_scripts_loaded",function(){gform.scriptsLoaded=!0}),window.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){gform.domLoaded=!0}),gform={domLoaded:!1,scriptsLoaded:!1,initializeOnLoaded:function(o){gform.domLoaded&&gform.scriptsLoaded?o():!gform.domLoaded&&gform.scriptsLoaded?window.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",o):document.addEventListener("gform_main_scripts_loaded",o)},hooks:{action:{},filter:{}},addAction:function(o,n,r,t){gform.addHook("action",o,n,r,t)},addFilter:function(o,n,r,t){gform.addHook("filter",o,n,r,t)},doAction:function(o){gform.doHook("action",o,arguments)},applyFilters:function(o){return gform.doHook("filter",o,arguments)},removeAction:function(o,n){gform.removeHook("action",o,n)},removeFilter:function(o,n,r){gform.removeHook("filter",o,n,r)},addHook:function(o,n,r,t,i){null==gform.hooks[o][n]&&(gform.hooks[o][n]=[]);var e=gform.hooks[o][n];null==i&&(i=n+"_"+e.length),gform.hooks[o][n].push({tag:i,callable:r,priority:t=null==t?10:t})},doHook:function(n,o,r){var t;if(r=Array.prototype.slice.call(r,1),null!=gform.hooks[n][o]&&((o=gform.hooks[n][o]).sort(function(o,n){return o.priority-n.priority}),o.forEach(function(o){"function"!=typeof(t=o.callable)&&(t=window[t]),"action"==n?t.apply(null,r):r[0]=t.apply(null,r)})),"filter"==n)return r[0]},removeHook:function(o,n,t,i){var r;null!=gform.hooks[o][n]&&(r=(r=gform.hooks[o][n]).filter(function(o,n,r){return!! 400 East 9th Street That indictment was unsealed and made public today upon the arrests and initial court appearances of Hicks, Ortega, Griffin, Cooper, and Ross. Lock Rates for alcohol abuse or dependence in 2006 remained above average for all age groups in Missouri while rates for drug dependence have been below the national average for the same time. The Greene County Medical Examiner's Office says there have been 56 confirmed drug overdose deaths in the county this year and several more cases are still pending complete results. Jeremy A. Ingram, 42, Laurie B. Holmes, 39, and Lonnie J. Tinker, 36, were sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool. "We get the occasional hit on those," Reece said. Unfortunately, in Missouri the number of meth lab seizures has risen between 2007 and 2009 from 1,261 to 1,732 incidents. Springfield officials say drugs are linked to all types of crime in southwest Missouri from stealing to domestic violence. A lock ( MSHP trooper recovers 88 pounds of meth from traffic - Springfield, MO Hicks allegedly was in possession of a Rohm .22-caliber revolver, a Lorcin .380-caliber pistol, a Hi-Point .40-caliber pistol, an FMJ .45-caliber derringer, a Jimenez Arms .22-caliber pistol, a Marlin .22-caliber rifle, a Browning 16-gauge shotgun, and a Remington .30-06 caliber rifle on July 24, 2018. Though he doesnt know for sure, Jones hears that meth in the Ozarks could now be coming from south of the border. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Rhoades. Due to their hard work, thats almost 300 pounds this week! Far more people were directly mentioned, implicated in crimes or alluded to in court documents and hearings. To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com, Greene County traffic stop leads MSHP to 110 pounds of marijuana, National Park Service says never push a slower friend down when escaping a bear, Springfield police ask for help to identify suspects after SUV hit a gas pump, Insect found outside Arkansas Walmart identified as Jurassic-era insect, Missouri State falls short in MVC quarterfinals against Southern Illinois, NASCAR star Elliott has leg surgery after snowboard accident. While a big chunk of the 2016 spike can be attributed to that Feb. 29 bust and another nearly half-pound seizure, Reece said there's certainlymore heroin on the streets of Springfield today than there was five years ago.