by Chris Hayes,
HILLSDALE, MO (KTVI) –
Hillsdale police were kept away from a raid in its own jurisdiction because of
concerns about possible police corruption.
Just after 8 pm, Friday night,
St. Louis County Tactical and Pinelawn Police surrounded two homes on
Bailey. Police raided the same homes
seven months ago. In October, Pinelawn
Police reported recovering cocaine and illegal guns. A bigger concern arose when a suspect in the
home reportedly admitted hearing a Hillsdale officer warn other suspects about
the October raid. The person described
someone else in the home talking to the Hillsdale officer on speakerphone when
the officer said, ‘Get out. Leave! Leave!’
Pinelawn police reported later finding drugs hidden in an air vent and
overflow pipe. They also reported
finding a gun under a mattress, with a defaced serial number and a gun in an
air vent that was reported stolen.
The FBI later arrested two
Hillsdale Officers, Lt. Parish Swanson
and Officer Raymond Stephens, accusing them of a drug conspiracy.
Now, fast forward seven months
to today. Pinelawn Detective Corporal
Lawrence Fleming said Police believe illegal activity at the Bailey homes
continued. After a loud flash bang, they
arrested at least six suspects and recovered more guns and drugs. One officer said that a strong smell of PCP
was slowing down the search.
The Hillsdale Police Department
was not notified of this second raid. We
watched as a Hillsdale officer drove up to the scene and was turned away by a
Pinelawn officer.
Hillsdale is the same
Department where Sgt Christopher Cornell pleaded guilty to Federal Drug charge
in 2007.