NEWS RELEASE
Monday, January 26, 2004

HPD VICE & NARCOTICS AND NORTH AND SOUTH  DISTRICTS ARREST 31 IN FOUR OPERATIONS OVER WEEKEND.

(Hartford) - Hartford Police Vice and Narcotics Division Detectives, along with Officers from the North and South Districts of the city, arrested thirty-one (31) individuals on drug and prostitution related charges over this past weekend.

On Sunday, January 25, 2004, at approximately 10 a.m., Vice and Narcotics Detectives conducted a reverse sting operation at the intersection of Lawrence and Russ Streets, in the Frog Hollow section of the city.  In an effort to deter future narcotics transactions in this area, and in response to community complaints, Detectives posed as drug dealers in front of 183 Lawrence Street.  A total of eighteen arrests were made as a result of the operation, eleven (11), or over 60%, from towns outside of Hartford, including Bristol, New Britain,  Wethersfield, Enfield, West and East Hartford, as far away Plymouth, New York.  Attached is a listing of arrestees and their charges.

On Saturday, January 24, 2004, at approximately 2100 hours, Vice and Narcotics Detectives executed a Search and Seizure Warrant at 57 West Service Road, the Motel 8, Room No. 216.  During the operation, Detectives seized approximately 34 bags of marijuana, 47.8 grams of marijuana, 20 grams of crack-cocaine, a scale, packaging materials and $995.00 in U.S. Currency.  Arrested and charged with Possession of Narcotics, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession With Intent to Sell (PWITS) and Operating a Drug Factory was Timothy Petty, DOB 4-29-83, of 706 Garden Street, Hartford.  Also arrested and charged with Possession of Narcotics was Patrick Conaway, DOB 8-6-61, of York, Pennsylvania.

On Friday, January 23, 2004, Detectives from the Vice and Narcotics Division along with North Community Response Division Officers conducted an undercover detail targeting street level prostitution in the Asylum Hill neighborhood, a well known hot spot for street level prostitution.  During the detail seven (7) females and two (2) males were arrested for prostitution related charged.  Charged with Prostitution were: Tammy Williams, DOB 1-7-64, of 202 Mather Street, Hartford;  Carol Baker, DOB 10-29-69, of 57 Belden Street, Hartford; Margarita Negron, DOB 7-19-78, of 177 Sigourney Street, Hartford; Brandy Bradway, DOB 7-31-66, of 221 Sisson Avenue, Hartford; Carman Ashby, DOB 7-4-66, of 221 Sisson Avenue, Hartford; Barbara Jackson, DOB 6-26-63, of 27 Edgewood Street, Hartford; John Edwards, DOB 1-3-62, of 61 Evergreen Avenue, Hartford; and Wilena Riley, DOB 1-10-67, of 5 Gray Street, Hartford.  Also arrested was Robert Shannon, DOB 11-11-68, of 1021 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, charged with Patronizing a Prostitute and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Also on Friday, January 23, 2004, Vice and Narcotics Detectives executed a Search and Seizure Warrant at 479 Broad Street, Hartford.  The Vice and Narcotics Division had conducted two previous operations with South District Officers targeting the low level heroin dealers and users at McDonalds on Washington Street, Hartford.  Detectives obtained information from these investigations and were able to determine the source of supply for the McDonalds drug ring.  As a result of the long term investigation, Detectives seized 186 bags of heroin, packaging materials, cutting agents, strainers, scales and heat sealers.  Arrested were Luis Rosado, DOB 6-22-72, and Luisa Garces, DOB 8-31-68, both of 479 Broad Street, and both charged with Possession of Narcotics, PWITS, PWITS within 1,500 feet of a School, and Operating a Drug Factory.

In commenting on the plethora of arrests and operations over the weekend, Vice and Narcotics Commander Lieutenant Harold Even remarked, "I would think sooner or later people are going to get the message.  I would think sooner or later the families of these people coming into the city to buy drugs would get sick of seeing their names in the paper.  We are never leaving. We will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of these individuals and send them to jail."

Hartford Police ask anyone with information about illegal drug activity to call (860) 525-DRUGS.  The department guarantees that all information will be kept in the strictest of confidence.

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