Stories from Thursday, May 12, 2011

Twelve people were arrested in Trumann Wednesday as part of a drug bust that was part of a six year investigation. Police said Jamie Hutcherson, Ashley Spray, Shawn Stracener, Kevin Mitchell, Brandy Irvin, Kimberly Vines, Morgan Smith and Rebecca Spray, all of Trumann, were arrested on suspicion of delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). Adrian Person and Jasmine Flowers of Trumann were arrested on suspicion of delivery of a controlled substance (marijuana). Jerry Lillard of Trumann was arrested on suspicion of delivery of a controlled substance (methadone). And Michael Hisaw of Bono was arrested on suspicion of delivery of a controlled substance (morphine). Detective Erik Willbanks said the May 11 bust was originally scheduled for April 13, but that was the week Officer Jonathan Schmidt was fatally shot. Willbanks said Schmidt was always part of these drug busts and would have been part of this one. "It was important to us to get these served yesterday because he would have been helping us," Willbanks said. The full story will be in the May 19 edition of the Poinsett County Democrat Tribune.