Odd Text Messages Sent To Savanna Police's New Phone Lead To Drug Arrests

Talk about a wrong number.

Savanna Police Chief David Spears started getting odd text messages shortly after he bought a new cell phone for the police department. An affidavit says the police chief contacted a drug task force after he received a text message on November 15, asking if he knew anyone "who wanted some tabs."

Authorities believe the phone number had previously been assigned to someone illegally selling prescription drugs.

The McAlester News-Capital reports that Spears texted the person back and set up a meeting at a hardware store in McAlester to buy Lortabs, a prescription painkiller.

Police arrested four people, including 42-year-old Shannon Cruce of McAlester, 37-year-old Ora Lee Denise Henderson of McAlester, 44-year-old Heidi Lynn Halm of Granbury, Texas, and 34-year-old Tara K. McDonald of Stuart, in the parking lot of the store. Officers seized Xanax, Lortabs and marijuana.

Police say Halm was the person who sent the text messages to the new Savanna Police Department phone number.

Cruce posted a $35,000 bond and was released from custody. The other three remain in custody at the Pittsburg County jail in lieu of $7,500 bonds, according to the McAlester News-Capitol.

All four defendants are due back in court at 9 a.m. on November 29 to face charges.