News Release

For further information please contact: Sgt. Jason Clark
(573) 522-0980
DDCC06182008
June 20, 2008

EMPHASIS: Drug Investigation



Captain Luke Vislay, director of the Division of Drug and Crime Control, announces the results of a joint undercover narcotics investigation in Crawford County.

Members of the Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group (LANEG), the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sullivan Police Department served a search warrant on a residence in Sullivan, Missouri, on June 18, 2008. During this search, officers seized over a dozen firearms (to include a 14-inch sawed off shotgun), methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. Officers arrested Lawrence G. Blum, 50, of Sullivan, MO, for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Blum is being held in the Crawford County Jail on $10,000 bond.

The Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group is a multi-jurisdictional drug task force. Its members include the sheriff departments of Camden, Gasconade, Crawford, Pulaski, Laclede, and Dallas counties, as well as the Lebanon and Osage Beach police departments. Crawford County became a member of this task force on February 28, 2007, and is the newest member of LANEG. LANEG is governed by a board of directors, and is coordinated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The above charges are mere accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of these charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

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