Three charged in drug busts

Search warrants were served Friday

BENTON -- Identities of three Sikeston residents arrested in last week's drug busts along with the charges they face have been revealed.

Tony Lamar "Smoke" Bennett, 34, of Sikeston is charged with two counts of class B felony of distribution of a controlled substance and five counts of class C felony of distribution of a controlled substance. These incidents took place between July 12 and Aug. 21, according to Scott County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Boyd. Bennett is also charged with one count of class B felony of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute on Aug. 29. Bond is set at $50,000 cash only.

A search warrant was served at 1:52 p.m. Aug. 29 by Sikeston Department of Public Safety's Special Operations Group at Bennett's apartment in Sikeston. Bennett and his girlfriend were in possession of about an ounce of marijuana and $148, which is thought to be proceeds from drug sales, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Also arrested last week was Derrick L. Turner, 36, of Sikeston, who is charged with two counts of class B felony of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Malcolm J. Turner, 17, of Sikeston is charged with one count of class B felony of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Sikeston's SOG Team served two warrants simultaneously around 4:30 p.m. Aug. 29 at 822 and 825 Agnes. When officers arrived, they approached three men in the front yard. As officers got closer, Derrick Turner threw five individually wrapped plastic bags containing a green leafy substance over into the yard of 824 Agnes, according to the probable cause affidavit. Malcolm Turner took off running from the officers when a detective saw him throw a clear plastic bag to the ground near the residence, the affidavit said.

After searching these residences, officers located 1.5 pounds of individually wrapped marijuana, 4 grams of powder cocaine and around 100 ecstasy pills. Officers also located a pistol at one of the residences.

Bond was set at $15,000 cash only for Malcolm Turner.

Derrick Turner is currently on parole for a felony narcotics violation, has two other felony narcotics violations and one conviction for second degree assault on a law enforcement officer, according to the affidavit. His bond is set at $100,000 cash only.