Drug discoveries becoming routine

The number of drug-related arrest cases being seen by law enforcement agencies in the past years shows a trend of drug discoveries becoming more and more routine as part of everyday police work.

Two recent arrests in Farmington only confirm that trend. The first came when an officer stopped a motorist on the parking lot of a convenience store on Ste. Genevieve Avenue in late November.

That case saw 25-year-old Gregory P. Kennon, of Farmington, arrested on a warrant and additional drug-related counts. Arrest records show Kennon was stopped for a traffic violation just after 5 a.m. on Nov. 27. He was found to have an active warrant for a Probation and Parole violation.

When officers checked his vehicle subsequent to his arrest, they found a zippered bag containing four bags of a processed controlled substance. They also discovered a glass pipe with drug residue inside, a marijuana cigarette and rolling papers.

Bond was set at $34,000, with Kennon posting bond and being released on those charges. He was tentatively charged on counts relating to possession of methamphetamine, possession of drugs (marijuana under 35 grams), attempt to distribute (illegal drugs), and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Three days later officers with the department assisted with an arrest of a man at the county courthouse. This time Roy Berghaus Jr., 40, of Farmington, was picked up while attending a court date on unrelated charges.

Officers were called to the courthouse to assist an investigator with the county prosecuting attorney’s office. Berghaus was found to have a warrant for first degree drug trafficking – but his problems wouldn’t end there.

A search of Berghaus turned up more than $2,000 in cash, some processed meth, and a straw – often referred to as a “shooter” – for ingesting illegal drugs. Bond was set on the warrant at $500,000. Charges filed included possession with intent to distribute (illegal drugs), and delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school.