Police make more drug-related arrests

Officers confiscated more than 700 grams of a banned stimulant.

By Jewels Phraner

Published March 16, 2007

The Columbia Police Department served four narcotic-related warrants this week, which resulted in the arrest of six Columbia residents. Officers seized more than 2 pounds of cocaine, more than 5 pounds of marijuana, several Psilocybin mushrooms, ecstasy pills, marijuana plants and more than 700 grams of what police believe to be a banned stimulant.

Wednesday night, Columbia police worked with two taskforces, Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group and the Missouri Unified Strike Team and Narcotics Group, to arrest Maura Mudd, 27, on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police confiscated approximately 5 pounds of marijuana, several ecstasy pills and drug paraphernalia.

Sgt. Ethan Ahern of the Missouri State Highway Patrol said though ecstasy is not an uncommon drug, it tends to be more common in college towns.

"Ecstasy is more prevalent in a rave crowd," he said.

Mudd's arrest comes after a month-long drug investigation, according to Columbia police Detective Ron Hall. He said the investigation is not over.

"There will be more arrests coming," Ahern said.

Earlier this week, police arrested Deven House, 22, and Michael Tveitnes, 21, on suspicion of federal conspiracy to distribute cocaine after confiscating 2 pounds of powder cocaine and three marijuana plants. The Drug Enforcement Administration assisted the department in serving this warrant, and the suspects have been released to the custody of federal authorities.

"We involved the DEA in this arrest because we developed information that we would locate a substantial amount of narcotics, and because of the level of person we felt we were dealing with," Columbia police Capt. Brad Nelson said.

Nelson oversees the department's narcotics unit.

An hour and 15 minutes later, officers arrested Maximillion Shackelford, 18, and Rebecca Hill, 17, at a different location when they found and confiscated a small quantity of Psilocybin mushrooms, a small amount of marijuana and more than 700 grams of 1-Benzylpiperazine. Known as BZP, 1-Benzylpiperazine is a stimulant banned in the United States.

Nelson said this is the first time the Columbia Police Department has seen BZP at this volume.

"Seven hundred grams of any illicit drug is an amount we would be concerned about," he said.

Shackelford is charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. According to police, additional charges are anticipated depending on the lab results for the BZP.

"We feel very comfortable saying that this substance is BZP, but we have to wait for official lab results to formally press charges," Nelson said.

Hill was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released after posting bail.

Police served a third search warrant at House's home, where they arrested Edger Walker, 23, on suspicion of two felony counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, felony possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police found more than 2 ounces of powder cocaine, more than 35 grams of marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms and drug paraphernalia in Walker and House's home.

The warrant was obtained after House was found at the first address.

"We started the day with two warrants but gained a third 'piggyback' warrant after House's arrest," Nelson said.

Although the quantity of narcotic-related warrants isn't unusual, with the department averaging approximately nine warrants a month, the department is targeting higher-level drug dealers, Nelson said.

On Feb. 24, a phone tip resulted in the arrest of three Columbia residents, when police found 70 marijuana plants in an apartment. The resident of the apartment and two others were arrested on suspicion of manufacturing or producing a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Last month, the police also confiscated 220 pounds of marijuana and $10,000 in cash from two homes, which police believed to be linked to drug trafficking, according to a police department news release.

Columbia police Detective Doug Parsons said a rise in marijuana prices showed the 220-pound marijuana seizure had significant impact on the availability of that type of the drug. But most of these seizures won't affect the community, Nelson said.

"Somebody is always there to take their place," he said.