Formal burglary charges were filed on three suspects Wednesday by the Cherokee County Attorney’s Office as part of an ongoing investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

During the course of investigating a residential burglary between Baxter Springs and Galena on Tuesday afternoon, Cherokee County authorities were in contact with Jasper County Sheriff’s deputies, who had stopped and subsequently arrested three individuals on narcotics violations in Missouri.

Those suspects were found to be in possession of property reported stolen from the rural Cherokee County home.  Investigators obtained additional information and evidence in the case, prompting the issuance of arrest warrants from the Cherokee County District Court.

Facing extradition back to Kansas from the Jasper County Jail is Jeffrey Cope, 33, along with 36 year-old Bobby Gene Cope and Christopher Whitney, all from the Joplin area.  Each suspect has been charged with residential burglary, felony theft and criminal damage to property.

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