Pubdate: Tue, 04 Feb 2003
Source: The Southeast Missourian (MO)
Copyright: 2003, Southeast Missourian
Contact: http://www.semissourian.com/opinion/speakout/submit/
Website: http://www.semissourian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1322
Author: Associated Press

PRISON GUARD FACES DRUG CHARGE

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A prison guard faces a felony drug charge after he 
was caught trying to bring 6 ounces of marijuana to work with him, 
authorities said.

Michael Cook, 38, was arrested Monday and charged with distributing 
marijuana into a prison. He told investigators he had brought drugs to the 
Missouri State Penitentiary one other time, Cole County Sheriff John C. 
Hemeyer said.

"On the outside, it may not seem like much, but people on the inside have 
been killed over 6 ounces of this stuff," he said.

Cook's arrest was the result of an investigation by Missouri Department of 
Corrections investigators and a local drug task force. He has been a guard 
at the prison for about six years.

After his arrest, Cook provided information that led to a search warrant at 
a Springfield apartment, where a man and a woman were arrested on drug 
charges, Hemeyer said. The pair have not yet been charged, but authorities 
claim they also smuggled marijuana into the prison.
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