News Release

For further information please contact: Sergeant Dan Crain
573-368-2345
I01H09
January 30, 2009

EMPHASIS: Pulaski County Resident Arrested on Drug Charges




Captain Luke Vislay, director of the Division of Drug and Crime Control, announces the results of a short-term joint narcotics investigation in Pulaski County.

As a result of a short-term narcotics-related investigation by members of the Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group (LANEG), a vehicle stop was conducted in St. Robert, Missouri. A canine officer with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department assisted with the vehicle stop and his canine partner indicated the presence of illegal narcotics in the vehicle. After a search of the vehicle, officers seized approximately 20 pounds of processed marijuana. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Benjamin C. Johnson, 21, of St. Robert, MO. Johnson was arrested at the scene and transported to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department.

Task force officers then applied for and received a search warrant for the Benjamin C. Johnson residence, located at 14990 Turkey Lane, St. Robert. Task force officers and a sheriff’s deputy then served the search warrant. As a result of this search an additional approximate three pounds of processed marijuana was seized, along with five firearms and numerous anabolic steroids.

Johnson was formally charged by the Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with distribution of a controlled substance. His bond was set at $30,000 cash or surety.

The Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group is a multi-jurisdictional drug task force. Its members include the sheriff’s departments of Pulaski, Laclede, Camden, Gasconade, and Crawford counties, as well as the Lebanon and Osage Beach police departments. LANEG is governed by a board of directors and is coordinated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The above charge is mere accusation and is not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charge must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

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