Butler County Sheriff's Department seizes estimated $30,000 worth of crystal methamphetamine

A gun pointed at a pizza delivery driver Wednesday evening at a rural Butler County home resulted in two being arrested, the seizure of an estimated $30,000 worth of suspected crystal methamphetamine and nearly $5,300 in cash.

At about 5 p.m., a pizza delivery was made to Byron Deshawn Norris’ residence in the 100 block of County Road 4701, according to Butler County Chief Deputy Wes Popp.

“The driver knocks on the door, and the door was answered by Byron Norris,” Popp said. “(Norris) pays for the pizza and then sticks a gun in the (driver’s) face and asked, ‘Are you the one who called the cops on me last time?’”

Butler County Sheriff’s Department seized approximately 3 pounds of methamphetamine “ice” Wednesday.DAR/Michelle Friedrich

When the driver responded no, Popp said, Norris went back into his residence and closed the door.

After the driver contacted the sheriff’s department, Popp said, Sgt. Richard Bruder and a couple of deputies went to Norris’ residence and contacted the 26-year-old when he answered the door.

Norris, who was wanted on a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives warrant for dangerous drugs, was taken into custody, Popp said.

“They asked for consent to search the residence for the handgun, and he declined, so a search warrant was sought and ultimately executed,” Popp said.

While completing the search of the residence, narcotics Investigator Ben Chamblin said, deputies found about 3 pounds of suspected methamphetamine, commonly known as “ice.”

The substance, Chamblin said, was found in three, one-gallon plastic bags inside a purse/tote bag in the kitchen floor.

The suspected meth, according to Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs, was broken into “small chunks, obviously done for distribution purposes.”

Dobbs said the suspected meth “most likely” came from the southern border.

“We also recovered a .22-caliber handgun,” said Chamblin, who indicated it was found in a cabinet in close proximity to the suspected methamphetamine.

Deputies, Chamblin said, also found a misdemeanor amount of marijuana, as well as “other items for packaging consistent with the distribution and sell” of illegal narcotics.

Authorities say Martajan Muena Williams, 18, of Hayti also was present when the search warrant was executed.

Williams was wearing a fanny pack type harness, which contained a large quantity of money, as well as rental documents in Norris’ name, the officers said.

Williams was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

When Dobbs, Chamblin and Investigator Randle Huddleston counted the money found in the pack Thursday morning, they found it totalled $5,270 in cash.

“Our rough estimate is 3 pounds” of suspected methamphetamine was seized, Dobbs said.

Methamphetamine, according to Chamblin, is selling for $600 an ounce. The approximate street value of the suspected meth reportedly is $30,000.

“We feel that the suspect’s paranoia led to his highly egregious act of pointing a gun at a pizza delivery man,” Dobbs said. “Obviously, if you’re in the narcotics business to this degree, it’s certainly not a wise practice to point guns at uninterested, third parties, such as pizza delivery men.”

Both Norris and Williams remain in the Butler County jail.

Norris, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Willis, was indicted in May on one felony count.

The indictment alleges on Aug. 9, 2018, in Pemiscot County Norris “knowing and intentionally distributed a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.”

Willis said Norris will be brought to Cape Girardeau, where he will make his initial appearance and a date(s) will be set for his arraignment and detention hearing.

It is not known at this time when Norris will make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Abbie Crites-Leoni.