NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Monday, March 22, 2004

HPD HITS NINE (9) HOT SPOTS THROUGHOUT CITY; MAKES 33 ARRESTS, SEIZES TWO CARS; $20,000 IN CASH.

(Hartford) - Based on information from Hartford citizens, Hartford Police continued to crack down on  "Hot Spots" of illegal drug, narcotic and prostitution activity, raiding nine (9) Hot Spots in nine (9) days.  As a result of these investigations, the HPD arrested 33 individuals, confiscated approximately $20,000.00 in cash, two vehicles, over 500 bags of heroin and cocaine, 16 bags of marijuana, and two loaded guns and ammunition.  

"The collaborative activity between the community, HPD Vice and Narcotics, Community Response and Patrol Divisions, K-9 Teams, and the FBI and DEA, has resulted in numerous arrests and the seizure of substantial amounts of drugs headed for street sale in Hartford neighborhoods," stated Acting HPD Chief of Police Mark Pawlina.  "It is through this type of partnership with the community, all Divisions of the HPD, and other law enforcement agencies that we truly impact crime in our neighborhoods, making our streets safer and quality of life better for us all.  Hartford neighborhoods can be confident in the knowledge that once they provide us information about a Hot Spot of illegal drug activity, they will see action," stated Pawlina.

The nine (9) "Hot Spots" raided over the past nine (9) days include 170-172 Middlefield Street, 37-39 East Raymond Street, 13 Crown Street, 611 Maple Avenue, 900 Garden Street, 85 Madison Street, 68 Madison Avenue, 1932 Broad Street, 160 Westland Street, and a known area of prostitution  in the Asylum Hill area.

The following is a summary of the search and seizures activities at nine (9)" Hot Spot" locations and prostitution in the Asylum Hill area:

• 170-172 Middlefield Street.  On March 10, 2004, at approximately 4:30 p.m., HPD Vice and Narcotics, North Community Response Division and K-9 Team, along with the FBI, executed a search and seizure warrant at 170-173 Middlefield Street, an identified "Hot Spot" based on neighborhood intelligence and Project Safe Neighborhood.  As a result of the investigation, Jeffrey Merritt, DOB 3-4-64, of 170-172 Middlefield Street was charged with Possession of Narcotics/Possession of Narcotics Within 1,500' of a School, and PWITS (Possession With Intent to Sell).  Seized during the raid were approximately two (2) ounces of crack cocaine, a bag containing marijuana, miscellaneous packaging materials and $553.00 in cash. 
   
• 37-39 East Raymond Street.  Also on March 10, 2004, in coordination with the Middlefield Street search and seizure, Vice and Narcotics, the North Community Response Division, K-9 Team, and the FBI, executed a search and seizure warrant at 37-39 East Raymond Street.  East Raymond Street had also been identified by neighborhood intelligence and Project Safe Neighborhood as a known location for illegal drug activity in the northeast sector of the city.  As a result of the warrant execution, fourteen (14) grams of crack cocaine, a bag containing marijuana, packaging material, a pocket scale, two pistol magazines, several rounds of ammunition and $693.00 in U.S. Currency were seized.  Arrested were Lawrence Easterling, DOB 12-1-81 of 37-39 East Raymond Street, and Walter Powell, DOB 3-12-60, of 154 Middlefield Street, Hartford, both charged with Possession of Narcotics, Possession of Narcotics Within 1,500 ' of a School, PWITS, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Criminal Trespass in the Third Degree.
   
• 13 Crown Street.  In response to information supplied by the community to the HPD South District Community Response Division, on March 11, 2004, South CRD, HPD Patrol units, along with Vice and Narcotics Detectives conducted a concentrated narcotics effort at 13 Crown Street, located in the Barry Square area of the city.  The investigation resulted in the seizure of approximately five (5) grams of crack cocaine, two bags  of marijuana, a small amount of cash, and the arrest of Taissa Ramos, DOB 10-31-81, of 417 Zion Street, charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, PWITS, and Possession within 1,500' of a School.  Also arrested was Elba Fuentes, DOB 12-31-77, of 169 Madison Street, charged with Possession of Narcotics, PWITS, and Possession Within 1,500' of a School.
   
• 611 Maple Avenue.  In concert with the 13 Crown Street investigation on March 11, 2004, and based on information from the community and the South District Community Response Division which identified the area of 611 Maple Avenue as a "Hot Spot" of illegal drug activity, Vice and Narcotics Detectives, with the support of HPD Patrol and K-9 units, conducted an investigation resulting in the seizure of a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe, $945.00 in U.S. Currency, two (2) ounces of crack cocaine, and approximately 1/4 ounce of marijuana.  Arrested and charged with Possession of Narcotics, Possession  of a Controlled Substance, PWITS, Possession of Narcotics Within 1,500' of a School, and Operating a Motor Vehicle Under Suspension was Dennis Rodriquez, DOB 3-29-84, of 322 West Preston Street, Hartford.  Arrested and charged with Possession of Narcotics, Possession of a Controlled Substance, PWITS, and Possession of Narcotics Within 1,500' of a School were Joshua Suarez, DOB 3-23-86, of 55 Ensign Street, East Hartford,  Ritchie Maldonado, DOB 8-1-86, of 244 Preston Street, Hartford, and Carmelo Santiago, DOB 2-1-86, of 27 Roxbury Street, Hartford.
   
• 900 Garden Street, Apartment F.  Again, based on information from the community, on March 17, 2004, Vice and Narcotics Detectives executed a search and seizure warrant at 900 Garden Street, Apartment F, Hartford.  The investigation resulted in the seizure of four (4) grams of crack-cocaine and $746.00 in U.S. Currency.  Arrested and charged with Possession of Narcotics, PWITS of Narcotics, and PWITS of Narcotics Within 1,500' of a School was William Little, 12-26-69, of 900 Garden Street, Apartment F, Hartford.
   
• 68 Madison Avenue.  On March 18, 2004, based on information from the community identifying 68 Madison Avenue as a "Hot Spot" of illegal drug activity in the Parkville sector of the city, Vice and Narcotics, in coordination with the South District Community Response Division and State Police, executed a search and seizure warrant at 68 Madison Avenue.  Seized during the investigation were twelve (12) bags of marijuana, a plastic container of crack cocaine, packaging material, a fully loaded semi-automatic 9mm pistol, a partially loaded (containing one spent casing) .22 caliber pistol (reported stolen out of Meriden, CT), an additional 9mm magazine, 9mm ammunition, .22 caliber ammunition, a holster, $608.00 in U.S. Currency, and a 1999 Toyota Camry.  In commenting on this operation, Narcotics Unit Supervisor Sergeant Neville Brooks stated, "The thorough warrant execution by the Vice and Narcotics Detectives, South CRD and State Police personnel participating in this operation allowed for the removal of dangerous individuals from our community."  Arrested and charged with Possession of Narcotics, PWITS, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Narcotics Within 1,500' of a School, Risk of Injury, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, and Weapons in a Motor Vehicle was Luis Ciuro, DOB 11-21-84.  Also arrested during the investigation were Orlando Mills, DOB 12-13-85, of 68 Madison Avenue, charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, PWITS, and Possession of a Controlled Substance Within 1,500' of a School; Lewis Corey, DOB 4-18-80, of 38 Seyms Street, charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, PWITS,  and Possession of a Controlled Substance Within 1,500' of a School; Melina Laboy, DOB 9-13-83, of 95 Nutmeg Lane, East Hartford, charged with Conspiracy to Sell Narcotics; Angel Ciuro, DOB 12-20-82, of 245 Himrod Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, charged with Interfering With Police; and Luz Corujo, DOB 3-7-72, of 68 Madison Street, Hartford, charged with Interfering With Police.
   
• 85 Madison Street.  On March 18, 2004, Vice and Narcotics Detectives, along with FBI Agents, executed a search and seizure warrant at 85 Madison Street, located in the Frog Hollow sector of the city.  As a result of the investigation, based on complaints from the community, eighty-seven (87) packages of Heroin and $255.00 in U.S. Currency was seized.  Arrested and charged with Possession of Narcotics, Risk of Injury, PWITS, and Possession of Narcotics Within 1,500' of a School was Johana Perez, DOB 2-12-74, of 87 Madison Street, Hartford.
   
• 1932 Broad Street.  Also on March 18, 2004, Vice and Narcotics Detectives assigned to the DEA Hartford Task Force arrested Causwell Bailey (DOB 7-13-64) of 1932 Broad Street and Peter Clark (DOB 2-23-72) also of 1932 Broad Street, both subjects of a long term on-going investigation into large scale crack-cocaine distribution throughout Hartford. As a result of the investigation, the Hartford DEA Task Force seized $14,000.00  in U.S. Currency, 160.2 grams of crack-cocaine, packaging materials and a scale.  Bailey and Clark were both charged with Possession of Narcotics, PWITS Narcotics, Operating a Drug Factory, and Possession of Narcotics Within 1,500' of a School.
   
• 160 Westland Street, Third Floor.  Again, based on information from the community of illegal drug activity, HPD Vice and Narcotics Detectives executed a search and seizure warrant at 160 Westland Street, Third Floor.  As a result of the investigation, 161 bags of heroin and $1,557.00 in U.S. Currency was seized.  Of the five (5) individuals arrested, one Cliff Barnes, DOB 6-18-66, of 157 Goose Lane, Tolland, Connecticut, was arrested during the raid when he knocked on the door of the apartment and asked a clearly identified police officer in a raid jersey for a bundle of heroin.  Also arrested were Iris Vasquez, DOB 1-18-67, of 160 Westland Street, Yvette Ortiz, DOB 11-24-73, of 160 Westland Street, and Michael Morales, DOB 10-8-68, of 32 Sanford Street, all charged with Possession of Narcotics, PWITS, and PWITS Within 1,500 of a School, and Eliezer Morales, DOB 12-11-84, of 132 Park Street, charged with Interfering With Police.
   
• Asylum Hill Area Prostitution.  On March 19, 2004, in its continuing efforts to address the quality of life in the Asylum Hill area of the city, and based on community complaints of prostitution in the area, Vice and Narcotics Detectives conducted an undercover detail targeting prostitutes in the Asylum Hill area, a well known "Hot Spot" for street level prostitution.  As a result of the undercover operation, a total of nine females were arrested and charged with Prostitution.  All were arrested without incident.  The arrestee were:  Kelly Murphy, DOB 8-13-70, N.C.A. (No Certain Address), Latercia Sawyer, DOB 1-5-61 of N.C.A., Alisa Jasper, DOB 12-24-66, N.C.A., Maria Rivera 2-22-62 of 352 Laurel Street, Brenda Brown, DOB 10-28-59, of 230 Mather Street, Third Floor, Rickie Taplin, DOB 11-16-56, of 31 Withmore Street, Third Floor, Elisa Green of 490 Farmington Avenue, Apartment B-3, Michelle Smith, DOB 5-22-63, of N.C.A., and Janice Baley, DOB 5-4-57, of 63 Cheld Drive, Bloomfield, Connecticut.

Contact:   Nancy Mulroy, Public Information Officer, Hartford Police Department,  (860) 543-8746
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