Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Story last updated at 11:02 AM on Tuesday, March 15, 2005

In the news

Independence Examiner

Police questioned Shipp acquaintance

Police arrested a "close friend" of Summer Shipp after they allegedly discovered marijuana in his home. Police searched the home in December as part of the investigation into Shipp's disappearance.

Sgt. Dennis Green said the man gave consent to have his home searched in December. When the home was searched police discovered what Green described as a "large amount" of marijuana. At the time of the search, Green said, the man made suspicious statements and actions made him a "person of interest" in the investigation.

Green said the man is no longer a person of interest in the investigation. Jackson County prosecutors charged the 45-year-old man with possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and possessing drug paraphernalia.

"We were searching many homes in connection with the case," Green said. "At the time, when we started the investigation, everybody could be considered a suspect. We've never had one particular person to focus on."

Shipp, of Kansas City, disappeared in December while doing market research in Independence.