Drug suspect unknowingly texts police

It has to rank as one of the all-time wrongest wrong numbers.

A 44-year-old Hood County woman who unwittingly sent a police chief text messages having to do with illegal drugs pleaded guilty to two felony charges recently in McAlester, Okla., according to a probable cause arrest affidavit.

Heidi Lynn Halm, of the 9100 block of Bellechase Road in Pecan Plantation, was charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance (Xanax), along with unlawful use of communication facility (telephone).

She received a suspended seven-year sentence in the Pittsburg (Okla.) County District Court, according to court documents and a report in the McAlester News-Capital newspaper. Halm was also fined $1,217.50 and will be on probation for two years, a court document states.

David Spears, police chief of Savanna, Okla., reported that after recently obtaining a new cell phone for work purposes, he received text messages “from an unknown individual on the phone regarding narcotics activity,” the affidavit states.

Spears’ statement indicated that he learned the identity of the person who previously had his new cell phone number, and believed that the unknown individual thought she was texting that person and “had no idea that law enforcement now had that phone number,” according to the affidavit.

Spears notified the District 18 Narcotics and Violent Crimes Task Force, then went along with the text messages and arranged to meet the then-unknown person on Nov. 15 in a Lowe’s parking lot under the pretense of purchasing Lortabs from the alleged drug dealer. Halm arrived at the scene, as did several other people, according to the affidavit. Officers allegedly discovered Xanax, Lortabs and marijuana while searching the three vehicles.

Halm and a passenger in the vehicle she was driving. Ora Lee Denise Henderson, 37, of McAlester, were among those arrested in connection with the bust, according to court documents. Halm was placed under arrest the following day, Nov. 16, after she was interviewed by investigators, the affidavit states. Tara K. McDonald, 34, of Stuart, Okla., and Shannon Cruce, 42, of McAlester, were arrested in the Lowe’s parking lot the previous day, and both are facing multiple felony counts, records show.

m.wilson@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066, ext. 254

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