Posted on 04/04/2008 10:35:42 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
A false alarm yesterday afternoon at a northwest Columbia home led police and federal agents to seize nearly two pounds of cocaine, 1,800 Ecstasy tablets, more than $33,000 in cash and an assortment of firearms, police said.
Thomas C. Stevens, 22, of 1804 Garden St., Apt. B and Arthur L. Rainey Jr., 23, of 611 Pennant St. were arrested on suspicion of federal drug charges in what Columbia police called a "large-scale drug operation."
Police were contacted at about 10:57 a.m. yesterday by a private security agency about an alarm that had been set off at 2607 Rose Drive in northwest Columbia off of North Stadium Boulevard. The home is in the Valleyview subdivision near Cosmo Park.
The alarm turned out to be false, but officers became suspicious after speaking with residents, police said.
"Initially, what caught the officers’ attention was the overwhelming smell of burnt marijuana coming from inside the home," said Columbia police Capt. Brad Nelson, the department’s investigative commander.
With permission from the residents, officers entered the home and saw "other signs of drug activity," Nelson said. He declined to elaborate on what was seen. At about 2 p.m., officers with the department’s five-person narcotics unit, along with members of the Drug Enforcement Administration, obtained a court-ordered search warrant.
Inside the home, officers discovered about 1½ pounds of powder cocaine, nearly a half-pound of crack cocaine, about 1,800 Ecstasy tablets, about 40 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, glassware used to make crack cocaine, a ledger indicating drug sales and purchases and $33,799 in cash, police said.
Authorities found drugs "literally throughout the house," Nelson said, along with packaging materials.
Firearms seized included a Glock .40-caliber handgun, a Raven .25-caliber handgun, a .38-caliber handgun, an Olympic Arms .223-caliber rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun.
Police said the estimated street value of the seized cocaine and Ecstasy was $52,700, based on sales per ounce and per pill. Nelson said the figure was a "low-ball" amount.
"It is rare that we get this quantity of numerous illegal drugs," Nelson said. "It would certainly qualify as one of our largest drug busts based on the sheer variety of the drugs recovered."
Rainey and Stevens were transported this morning from the Boone County Jail to Jefferson City, where they were taken into custody by federal authorities. Don Ledford, a spokesman for U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas City, said this morning federal charges had yet to be filed.
Probably easier than getting a warrant.
False alarm. I believe that. How many dogs got shot?
Dude they did get a warrant.
the Drug Enforcement Administration, obtained a court-ordered search warrant.
Another entry in the annals of America's dumbest criminals.
Yep, owning firearms and having cash are terrible crimes. These news stories always make it sound like simply having cash and firearms is illegal. What a country we have become. Carry your own money around and have it confiscated, you evil cashhead.
No kidding. LOLOLOLOL
Just a question for all those anti-drug war folks. Are you so libertarian that you think anything should be legal to have, let’s say plutonium/uranium, copious amounts of ammonium nitrates, ricin? Just curious where you draw the line on where the government has a legitimate duty to try and protect the masses from people who feel they can do whatever they want?
Drugs like cocaine and meth do more damage per year to our country in health costs, legal fees, lost man hours, wasted man hours, losses via theft, and third party injuries by under the influenced users than any lower tier terrorist does blowing up a train terminal or bus stop would.
Dude they did get a warrant.
the Drug Enforcement Administration, obtained a court-ordered search warrant.
With permission from the residents, officers entered the home and saw "other signs of drug activity," Nelson said.
The cops were invited inside by the residents and then got their warrant. Proving at least that drugs can make you amazingly stupid.
Or most credulous reporters.
Truer words were never spoken.
From the article:
Police were contacted at about 10:57 a.m. yesterday by a private security agency about an alarm that had been set off at 2607 Rose Drive in northwest Columbia off of North Stadium Boulevard. The home is in the Valleyview subdivision near Cosmo Park.
With permission from the residents, officers entered the home and saw "other signs of drug activity," Nelson said. He declined to elaborate on what was seen.
At about 2 p.m., officers with the department’s five-person narcotics unit, along with members of the Drug Enforcement Administration, obtained a court-ordered search warrant.
The idiots had a security system, set off the alarm, and didn't call the security company to tell them everything was ok.
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