Stoddard County business owners sue over 2011 drug raid - KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports

Stoddard County business owners sue over 2011 drug raid

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STODDARD COUNTY, MO (KFVS) -

Four of six businesses involved in a raid in Stoddard County last summer have sued the county.

According to their attorney, three received settlements and another case is still pending.

It all started last August when authorities raided the businesses taking hundreds if not thousands of packages of what authorities called K-2, or synthetic marijuana.

This was just weeks before the synthetic drug ban, but according to Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver the items were illegal because they imitated a controlled substance.

Oliver says that been against the law since the early 1970's.

The business owners were granted immunity as prosecutors went after the bigger fish, the manufacture of the drugs.

Russ Oliver says as soon as those owners got immunity, they sued.

"I demanded we pay absolutely nothing because we did absolutely nothing wrong," said Oliver. "Part of the reason I'm so angry is because this case is akin to a drug dealer getting caught with cocaine then sues for lost profits, it's ridiculous."

The businesses involved in these lawsuits include J & R Quick Shop in Bloomfield, R L's Packaging Plus in Essex, Jack's Deli and Things in Bernie, and Tootie's 225 in Dexter.

The owners were either not available, or told Heartland News they were not allowed to talk about the case at this time.

No word yet on how much money they received as part of the settlement. The attorney representing the owners did not want to comment until the last case is final.

Oliver said the money was paid through the county's insurance company.

The alleged manufacturer of those drugs, Kevin Bay of Columbia, is currently facing several felony charges.

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