Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman said the Maries County Sheriff’s Office taking over Belle’s police coverage is working well for Belle citizens.

Deputies have solved victim crimes, burglaries, sexual assaults, made numerous drug cases, recovered stolen property — all of which would not have been achieved otherwise. The sheriff said prior to his deputies working in the Belle Division, Belle suspects “were literally getting by with sexual assault with no consequences.”

The sheriff said he was not sure he wanted the additional responsibility of Belle’s law enforcement, and knew it was not a popular decision for some citizens. Now he believes it was the right thing to do and he is proud of the work of his deputies.

Heitman reported a Belle man was arrested on May 19 when Deputy Bret Turnbough was patrolling Highway 28 in Belle and observed a speeding vehicle. Maries County K-9 handler, Sgt. Mark Morgan, also responded to the scene with the drug dog, Kimon, who alerted him to the presence of narcotics. The deputies located a substantial amount of drug paraphernalia and suspected methamphetamine. They arrested Tracy Cook, 54, of Belle, who was taken to the county jail.

Maries County Prosecuting Attorney Anthony “Tony” Skouby has charged Cook with the class D felony of possession of a controlled substance, and the misdemeanor charges of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, operated motor vehicle owned by another knowing the owner of vehicle has not maintained financial responsibility, and exceeded the speed limit by 6 to 10 miles per hour.

The preliminary hearing will be held June 2 in the Maries County Associate Court with Judge Kerry Rowden presiding. Rowden issued a warrant for Cook with no bond.

On May 26, Turnbough and Deputy Mike Sassman, in the early morning hours, were told by a concerned citizen about a female passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle near the Mexican restaurant. They investigated and located heroin, fentanyl, Xanax, and drug paraphernalia. A female was arrested and taken to the county jail with charges pending.

“It is citizens like this that make our jobs easier,” the sheriff said. He encourages people to report criminal or suspicious activity by calling 573-422-3381.

“Deputies continue to work hard in Belle cleaning up the drug problem in town,” Heitman said. “It is becoming known that Belle is no longer a safe place for drug users. Removing these drug users from Belle is not only making the town a safer place but our surrounding communities as well.”