DPS roundup nets 35

A Siekston Department of Public Safety officer takes a person into custody.

SIKESTON - It wasn't the holiday greeting they may have expected when more than 30 individuals found themselves facing law enforcement officers early Tuesday. It was, instead, "Operation Cold Turkey."

At approximately 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, along with members of the Scott County Sheriff's Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, SEMO Drug Task Force, New Madrid County Sheriff's Department and Mississippi County Sheriff's Department began serving warrants in Sikeston. Approximately 100 law enforcement officers were involved.

"Operation Cold Turkey," was the culmination of a Scott County Grand Jury, which has been empaneled for the last 90 days. Many of these warrants were for narcotics violations and the sale of narcotics in Sikeston, DPS stated.

Law enforcement officials described the operation as a success with the arrest of approximately 40 individuals from the warrant list as well as others who were found in violation of the law during the service of the arrest warrants. Several individuals were arrested for harboring while others were arrested for the possession of narcotics during the execution of the arrest warrants.

Sikeston Department of Public Safety Director Drew Juden praised the members of the Scott County Grand Jury and the Scott County Prosecutor's Office who worked so diligently to make the operation a success and to meet the required time line so the warrants could be executed at the proper times.

"This operation shows, once again, that the city of Sikeston and surrounding areas will not tolerate or accept the on-going use of narcotics, and the sales of narcotics within our region," said Juden. "We are trying to send a message to those individuals who continue to break the law by trafficking in illegal drugs. As long as they continue to put themselves and their community at risk, we will be there to incarcerate these individuals in our facility until they decide to cease and desist with their illegal activities or to move elsewhere to conduct their business."

The DPS director offered his thanks to assisting agencies also. "It takes many hours behind the scenes to execute a complex investigation and warrant round up such as this," he said.

Those arrested in Operation Cold Turkey according to the Department of Public Safety were: Rodney Young, Elissa Baker, James Harris, Shelia Harrison, William Henry Applewhite, Antonio Johnson, Danielle Litwiller, Corrine Mack, Mary McKay, Amanda McWhirter, Kevin McWhirter, Jody Owens, William Patrick, Sharon Rayburn, Joshua Barton, Charles Berbling, Jonathan Blackmon, Aaron Brookins, Donald Chadd, Richard Chadd, Holly Chisnell, Ronald Coleman, Jeff Collins, Richard Emanuel, Herman Grant, Levi Hampton, James Roper, Cynthia Rutledge, Jonathan Schuerenberg, Jerry Summers, Daniel Thompson, Raynette Turner, Rick Wallace, Laketa Williams and Brenda Williamson.

DPS did not make available the list of charges for each individual.