NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Thursday, February 19, 2004

HARTFORD POLICE CONTINUE PRESSURE ON MID-LEVEL DRUG DEALERS; ARREST 43 AND SEIZE DRUGS WITH STREET VALUE OVER 50,000.

(Hartford) - Hartford Police announced today that in thirteen (13) separate but coordinated operations  targeting known "Hot Spots" throughout the city, HPD Officers and Detectives arrested 43 individuals on numerous drug charges, seized over $50,000.00 in heroin, crack cocaine, and marijuana, $5,000 in U.S. Currency and two guns, one a sawed-off shot gun.

Over the past ten days HPD Officers and Detectives have executed twelve (12) search and seizure warrants targeting "Hot Spots" and mid-level drug dealers in the Blue Hills, Parkville and South End neighborhoods of the city, and conducted a Reverse Sting Operation at 94 Brook Street, an area noted for illegal drug trafficking.

In commenting on the strategic activity of the Department, Acting HPD Chief Mark Pawlina stated, "The effort of our Officers and Detectives has been outstanding. We are very in tune with complaints we have been getting from the community on illegal drug activity at these Hot Spot locations and we will be responding to those complaints in force.  We will continue to keep the pressure on and get drug dealers out of our neighborhoods."

The following are details of the HPD search and seizures and reverse sting operations:

• On February 5, 2004, Vice and Narcotics Detectives executed a search and seizure warrant at 112E Stonington Street.  Detectives seized a loaded .38 caliber revolved, 643 packages of heroin, a digital scale, a hand held scale, a plastic bag containing numerous 9mm rounds, 15 grams of marijuana, 2 grams of crack cocaine, packaging materials and $2,850 in U.S. Currency.  Arrested and charged with Possession of Narcotics, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Narcotics within 1,500' of a School, and Criminal Possession of a Firearm was John Phillips, DOB 12-04-71, of 105 Mapleton Street, Hartford.  Also arrested and charged with Possession of Narcotics, Possession of Narcotics within 1,500' of a School, and Interfering with Police was Pedro Gomez, DOB 5-23-66, of 37 Norwich Street.  In commenting on the arrests, Sergeant Neville Brooks, HPD Narcotics Unit Supervisor stated, "A major distribution outlet was affectively disrupted and an individual clearly capable and readily equipped to utilize deadly physical force was captured."
   

• On February 6, 2004, Vice and Narcotics Detectives, acting on information obtained, conducted an investigation into an illegal narcotics operation originating in the Blue Hills section of the city.  The investigation resulted in the arrest of Juan Alicea, DOB 11-15-76, of 253 Plainfield Street, charged with Possession of Narcotics, and the seizure four (4) grams of crack cocaine and $981.00 in U.S. Currency.
   

• Also on February 6, 2004, Vice and Narcotics Detectives conducted a lengthy investigation into numerous citizen complaints of illegal narcotics activity in the Parkville section of the city.   The investigation resulted in the arrest of Caesar Hernandez, DOB 3-18-67 of 492 Broad Street, charged with Possession of Narcotics, Possession of Narcotics With Intent to Sell (PWITS), and Possession of Narcotics within 1,500' of a School, and the seizure of 271 grams of raw heroin with a street value of more than $35,000.00, and $200 in U.S. Currency.
   

• On February 9, 2004, at 8:00 a.m., Vice and Narcotics Detectives conducted a Reverse Sting Operation at 94 Brook Street, an area noted for a high level of violence and lawlessness related to the narcotics trade.  Detectives posing as drug dealers arrested a total of 28 individuals attempting to purchase narcotics.  Two outstanding Arrest Warrants were also served during the operation.  Click here for list of arrestees and their charges.
   

• On February 10, 2004, at approximately 1:20 p.m., Vice and Narcotics Detectives executed a search and seizure warrant at 295 Westland Street which resulted in the arrest of David Cooper, DOB 5-11-70 and Nicole Allard, DOB 8-31-82, both of 295 Westland Street, and both charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, PWITS, and PWITS within 1,500' of a School.
   

• Also on February 10, 2004, Vice and Narcotics Detectives executed a search and seizure warrant at 96-98 Baltimore Street, first floor, that resulted in the seizure of one pound of marijuana, packaging materials, scales, .9mm ammunition, and $511 in U.S. Currency.  This seizure was a result of an intensive investigation into marijuana distribution in the Baltimore, Kent and Adams Street area.  Arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, PWITS, PWITS within 1,500' of a School, and Operating a Drug Factory were Rashawn Toules, DOB 7-11-79 and Ebony Campbell, DOB 7-11-84, both of 96-98 Baltimore Street, first floor.
   

• On February 13, 2004, Vice and Narcotics Detectives executed a search and seizure warrant at 103-105 Pembroke Street, third floor, on an investigation into marijuana distribution in the Blue Hills Avenue area.  The investigation is on-going.
   

• Also on February 13, 2004, Vice and Narcotics Detectives, along with the DEA Task Force, executed a search and seizure warrant at 235 Cornwall Street that resulted in the seizure of 1/2 pound of marijuana, $959.00 in U.S. Currency, and a 12 gauge sawed off shotgun.  Arrested and charged with Possession of a Sawed-off Shotgun, Possession of Narcotics, Possession of a Controlled Substance, PWITS of a Controlled Substance, PWITS of a Controlled Substance within 1,500' of a School, and Operating a Drug Factory was Michael Owens, DOB 2-13-81, of 235 Cornwall Street.
   

• On February 14, 2004, Vice and Narcotics Detectives conducted an investigation into a complaint of illegal narcotics activity in the Annawan Street area of the city.  As a result of the investigation, Detectives seized 72 bags of heroin, 17 ziplock bags of marijuana, and approximately $600.00 in U.S. Currency.  Arrested at 29 Annawan Street and charged with Possession of Narcotics, PWITS, PWITS within 1,500' of a School, and Interfering with Police was Saul Hernandez, DOB 9-10-83, of 655 Broad Street, Hartford; Ricardo Perez, DOB 12-15-81, of 51-D Dutch Point,  arrested at 31 Annawan Street, and charged with Possession of Narcotics, PWITS, PWITS within 1,500' of a School; and Reyniel Ferrer, DOB 11-16-81, of 211 Wethersfield Avenue, arrested at 211 Wethersfield Avenue and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, PWITS, and PWITS within 1,500' of a School.
   

• Also on February 14, 2004, Vice and Narcotics Detectives executed a search and seizure warrant at 167 Kensington Street, resulting in the arrest of Willie Manson, DOB 11-27-63, of 167 Kensington Street, charged with the Sale of Narcotics, Possession of Narcotics, and Possession of Narcotics within 1,500' of a School.
   

• On February 17, 2004, Vice and Narcotics Detectives conducted an investigation into a complaint of illegal narcotics activity in the area of 170-172 Middlefield Street, an identified "Hot Spot" location.  The investigation resulted in the arrest of Donald Bonds, DOB 8-5-64, of 31 Gillette Street, charged with Possession of Narcotics and Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Also arrested was Robert Henton, DOB 12-16-53, of 141 Newington Avenue, charged with Possession of Narcotics and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

End.

Contact:   Nancy Mulroy, Public Information Officer, Hartford Police Department,  (860) 543-8746
Visit www.hartford.gov for more Hartford Police News.