Three arrested in cocaine operation
Investigators found large amounts of cash and a handgun at the scene.
Published Sept. 17, 2010
The Boone County Sheriff’s Department found ounces of cocaine and about $8,000 in cash while executing a search warrant Monday morning, according to a Boone County Sheriff’s Department news release.
The Boone County SWAT team also discovered a handgun and additional evidence of cocaine distribution and sales when they entered the residence to serve the warrant, according to the release. Two suspects attempted to destroy some of the cocaine by flushing it down a toilet and throwing it into a sink filled with water.
The warrants were served simultaneously on both sides of a duplex located at 5321 Ponderosa St., the release stated. The warrants were the result of a sheriff’s department investigation which revealed that the occupants of both units were working together in a significant and regular cocaine distribution operation.
Michael J. Walker Jr., 25; Matthew R. Olsson, 32; and Corey W. Everage, 32, were arrested on charges of distribution of a controlled substance, among other charges.
Detective Sgt. Britt Shea declined to give details about the investigation that led to the warrants.
“It was a fairly routine investigation, which is to say we used our normal investigative techniques and normal personnel,” Shea said. “This was a unique investigation in that Michael Walker, I think, was a significant cocaine dealer who was very active and involved in the cocaine business in Boone County.”
Around 20 search warrants dealing with drug investigations were executed last year, Shea said. Drug arrests are made every day, but they don’t always involve search warrants.
“We have drug arrests being made on a daily basis, and we don’t have any quotas that we have or try to meet as far as writing search warrants,” Shea said. “When we gather enough information, probable cause, to present to a judge for a search warrant, we will do that.”
Walker was on Missouri parole for distribution of a controlled substance, according to the news release. Olsson is listed in the Boone County Sheriff Offenders List as a registered sex offender and was also arrested Monday for failure to notify law enforcement of address change.
“I believe Mr. Olsen and Mr. Walker were on probation or parole for prior offenses, and I believe they are in the process of having their bail revoked,” Shea said. “Walker has already had his parole revoked, and Mr. Olsen will be having his bail revoked shortly if it hasn’t already been done. Both will be sent back to the Department of Corrections because of prior offenses.”
Comments (2)
4:21 a.m., Sept. 23, 2010
Brandon said:
And what's with the term "controlled substance" anyway?? What the hell does that even mean? Aren't ALL substances "controlled" to some extent? If they WEREN'T, they'd fall apart easily, and the atoms and DNA wouldn't stick together very well. How are drugs any more "controlled"? "Controlled substance" is just a BS government-law enforcement term cooked up by their "experts" to make it sound worse than it is. Drugs are just edible, smokable, etc., substances that some people abuse and others... don't. There's no "threat" from drugs any more than from alcohol! Keeping it illegal just makes things worse, because the gov't can't regulate it and make sure you're getting top-quality stuff. You have to buy it from a shady dealer because LEGAL shopkeepers can't sell it. It's madness! The "drug problem" is all in our heads! Sure, in poorer and more destitute areas, there are a lot more folks who are junkies and addicts, but there ARE also plenty of moderate users out there who are plenty successful in life. Why don't we ever focus on THOSE people? Everyone only hears the WORST OF THE WORST when it comes to drugs, and that kind of propaganda makes us assume that the whole country is being overrun. But that's simply NOT TRUE! Not even 10% of the country, or perhaps 15% (just so I don't underestimate), does drugs on a regular basis! A nation of 300 million can surely handle 30-45 million folks doing drugs. Dontcha think? The other 250+ Million are doing fine. What are we fighting this bogus "war on drugs" for? This drug problem, esp. the violence, didn't even EXIST until the gov't criminalized it. Yet we're being indoctrinated to think that a huge drug problem with lots of gang violence is "endemic" to a society that allows some drug use and distribution. Come on... Portugal, Holland and many other nations have decriminalized drugs to some extent, and they've seen AMAZING results. Isn't it time America caught up with the civilized world already? The War on Drugs and illegalization obviously don't work. When are more cops gonna wake up instead of pursuing this useless crap? They're just saving face. They know drugs will never go away, and why should they? Would that REALLY be a much better world? Does it really matter for most Americans if drugs exist one way or the other, the vast majority who DON'T do drugs at all? It's all just a media and gov't myth, this "drug problem." Most areas in this nation don't have a huge "drug problem" where they're just BEGGING for the gov't to step in and arrest people by the dozens. And even if they wanted help, why can it only be law enforcement? Whatever happened to the idea of REHAB and actually helping people kick addictions? Putting them in jail does no good. Surely you've heard of drug-dealing in American jails, right?
4:12 a.m., Sept. 23, 2010
Brandon said:
"cocaine distribution operation" LOL Or how about the silly "grow operation" nonsense with weed. As if every person who got busted growing a little pot in their house is TANTAMOUNT to being a narcoterrorist or some nonsense like that. Just imagine if we referred to moonshine alcohol in that manner- "bathtub gin operation." Are you KIDDING me with this paranoid nonsense? You're acting like the guy was a freaking drug trafficker, cops! So WHAT if he had $8,000 in cash, a handgun (a lot of law-abiding citizens in MO have handguns, so wut), and a little coke. What business is it of yours? Now, if he starts using it to do illegal stuff or cause violence chaos, that's a whole different story. But as long as the people are simply selling and using it, big deal. Why is wanting to make a little profit off something consenting adults want to buy, be it drugs, alcohol, candy or shoes, so bad?? The guy's an entrepeneur, not a criminal! The drug laws are insane! Not every person who has a little bit of drugs is a junkie or a shady drug dealer. This paranoia has got to stop in this country. Drugs are just substances! They don't have any magical powers to make you "violent" or whatever, no more so than alcohol and cigarettes. What happens to a person under the influence of drugs is largely his choice. Sure, it alters his mind somewhat, but it's not like it's gonna make him rape or kill someone. People like that probably would've done the crime regardless, eventually. And let's finally ADMIT that moderate drug use DOES exist. Sure, the people that do it in moderation aren't willing to come out of the shadows (who would in this legal environment?), but they exist, and in large numbers, too. Every use of a drug is not the possible end of your life. Unless you OD or have preexisting health problems, you're probably not gonna die doing coke occasionally. And it's practically IMPOSSIBLE to die doing weed. If I ever become a cop (low chance of that happening), I'm NOT gonna enforce dumb laws like victimless crime BS (drug laws, prostitution laws, gambling laws, "obscenity" laws, etc.). If you're not hurting anyone or infringing on their rights, I don't care. That's your business. A free country CAN survive a few people here and there USING that freedom to its fullest extent. An unfree country doesn't want people to have fun if it's unconventional or doesn't jive with a lot of people's views of "morality."