Sallisaw Police detectives and officers conducted a knock and talk on June 17 and found various drug items along with methamphetamines at one apartment and later seized a clandestine lab at another at the Houser Apartments Complex in Sallisaw. Sallisaw police reported the two knock and talks were a result of tips that lead to an investigation into the allegation of illegal drug activity.

A knock and talk investigation is when officers knock on the door of a residence that is suspected as a place of illegal activities to talk and ask questions of the suspect or suspects about allegations against them.

First knock and talk

During the first knock and talk, two children were found sleeping, and the Department of Human Services (DHS) had to be called to the scene. The children 17 and 3, were taken by a DHS worker, but was later released to the children’s grandmother.

Detective Herb Hutchinson of the Sallisaw Police Department said he and Detective Sandra Girdner arrived at the Houser Apartments at 8:30 a.m. and knocked on the apartment door of Shane Allen Johnson, 36.

Hutchinson asked Johnson if he and Girdner could come in and speak with him and Johnson stated, “Sure,” according to the report. Another person in the apartment, Marcy Whittaker, 39 walked out of the bedroom and Hutchinson told Whitaker and Johnson they had received information about them selling narcotics.

“There’s nothing, you can go ahead and search,” Johnson said.

During the search of the apartment, Hutchinson found three small bags containing a white powder substance that later field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Also during the search Hutchinson found a glass-smoking device, metal grinder containing a green leafy substance, a metal can containing marijuana, and a bent spoon with white powder.

“I’m sorry, I’m just broke and trying to make money to support my kids. Man can you give me a break I just stared selling,” Johnson is reported to have said.

Johnson and Whittaker were booked into the Sallisaw City Jail for possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), possession of CDS in presence of a minor child times two, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both were transferred to the Sequoyah County Jail and as of press time they both remained in custody in lieu of a $31,500 bond each.

Lab at second knock and talk

Another knock and talk at 6:30 p.m. at the same apartment complex lead to the discovery of a clandestine lab in the attic of another apartment.

Sallisaw Police Officer Billy Oliver and Hutchinson went to the residence of Jackie Holcomb, 39, to investigate allegations made against Holcomb about illegal drug activity. During the search of the residence, Hutchinson and Oliver found a black zipper pouch with syringes allegedly containing methamphetamine. While searching the residence officers found in the kitchen a homemade glass-smoking device with burned residue, and in the bathroom two small plastic bags with a white powder residue.

The report states that Hutchinson and Oliver discovered insulation on the bedroom floor below the attic crawl space. Oliver climbed into the attic and found a camouflage hunting bag containing three empty glass jars, two bottles marked Liquid Fire, two 12-ounce bottles of Heet, two sets of plastic aquarium tubing, one container of Drain Opener, coffee filters, glass beaker with a rubber stopper, and a funnel.

Holcomb was booked in the Sallisaw City Jail on charges of manufacturing a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), possession and concealing CDS and other drug charges. Holcomb was released on a $20,000 bond June 18.