NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:  Thursday, March 4, 2004
 

HPD CONTINUES CRACK DOWN ON MID-LEVEL DRUG DEALERS AND FOCUS ON "HOT SPOTS" OF ILLEGAL DRUG ACTIVITY.

(Hartford) - The Hartford Police Department Vice and Narcotics Division, along with the HPD's Patrol and Community Response Divisions, and based on information from the community, continued its campaign of "hitting areas of illegal activity known as 'Hot Spots' throughout the city," stated Acting Chief of Police Mark Pawlina.

"Since February 24, 2004, the HPD has launched ten operations targeting areas throughout the city.  The net result has been the shutting down of drug factories, seizure of pounds of drugs,  illegal guns and ammunition, along with the arrest of  Forty-four (44) individuals on numerous illegal narcotic and firearms charges," stated Pawlina. 

Among the 44 arrestees were Twenty-five (25) arrested during a "Reverse Sting" operation conducted in Hartford's Dutch Point Housing Complex on March 1, 2004, many of whom from towns other than Hartford, such as Deep River, Westbrook, Wethersfield, Norwich, and Plantsville.  Click here for list of March 1, 2004, Dutch Point Arrestees.   

Other HPD operations targeting "Hot Spots" of illegal drug activity included the following locations and arrests:

On March 3, 2004, Vice and Narcotics Detectives executed a search and seizure warrant at 76 Hamilton Street, Apartment 2W.  As a result, three (3) individuals were arrested, approximately one-quarter pound of marijuana, 24 grams of crack cocaine, packaging materials, a scale, and a fully loaded "One Sentinel" .22 caliber revolved, with ammunition.  Arrested were Edward Ortiz, DOB 3/6/80, of 76 Hamilton Street, charged with Carrying a pistol without a Permit, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Narcotics, Possession With Intent to Sell, Possession of Narcotics within 1,500 feet of a School, PWITS within 1,500 feet of a School, and Interfering with Police; Edwin Torres, DOB 1/16/86, of 76 Hamilton Street, charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Narcotics/ PWITS/Possession of Narcotics within 1,500 feet of a School, and PWITS within 1,500 feet of a School; and Ricardo Torres, DOB 7/27/87, of 76 Hamilton Street, charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Narcotics/ PWITS/Possession of Narcotics within 1,500 feet of a School, and PWITS within 1,500 feet of a School, and Interfering with Police.

Also on March 3, 2004, Vice and Narcotics Detectives conducted an investigation into a community complaint of illegal narcotics activity in the area of 50 Bond Street, a location identified as a "Hot Spot" location in the Barry Square sector of the city.  The investigation resulted in the arrest of  James Hampton, DOB 11/16/75, of 40 F Channing Drive, Manchester, charged with Possession of Narcotics/PWITS/ and Possession of Narcotics within 1,500 feet of a School; Waldemar Cruz, DOB 6/25/81, of 49 Bond Street, Hartford, charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance; and Raymond Rodriquez, DOB 6/24/75, of 368 Quaker Lane, West Hartford, charged with Possession of Narcotics/PWITS, and Possession of Narcotics within 1,500 feet of a School.

On February 28, 2004, Vice and Narcotics Detectives executed a search and seizure warrant at 42-44 Pliny Street in the Clay Arsenal sector of the city.  As a result of the investigation, Brandon Bryant, DOB 11/11/85, of 42 Pliny Street was arrested and charged with Possession of Narcotics, PWITS, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Narcotics within 1,500 feet of a School, and Theft of a Firearm.  During the search, Detectives seized a loaded .22 caliber Ruger revolve which has been reported stolen out of Middlefield, Connecticut, a loaded Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver, 42 rounds of ammunition, two bags of marijuana, three knotted plastics containing powder cocaine, packaging material and a small denomination of U.S. currency.

On February 27, 2004, Vice and Narcotics Detectives conducted an investigation based on a community complaint of illegal narcotics activity in the Northwestern sector of the city.  As a result of the investigation, Detectives seized One Hundred (100) packages of heroin, and arrested of Pablo Morales, DOB 11/20/79, of 919 West Boulevard, charged with Possession of Narcotics and Possession of Narcotics With Intent to Sell.

On February 26, 2004, Vice and Narcotics Detectives executed a search and seizure warrant at 262-266 Maple Avenue, Hartford, identified as a "Hot Spot" in the Barry Square sector of the city.  Upon entry, the accused were observed actively packaging heroin for street level sale.  As a result of the investigation, four individuals were arrested on numerous drug charges, a drug factory was shut down, 388 packages of heroin and an additional five (5) grams of heroin, approximately 3 ounces of marijuana, and $1,515.00 in U.S. Currency was seized.  Arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Narcotics, PWITS, Possession of Narcotics within 1,500 feet of a School, and Operating a Drug Factory were Damaris Ramos, DOB 3/28/83 and Felipe Henriquez, DOB 12/13/75, both of 266 Maple Avenue, and Hector Badillo, DOB 8/18/58, of 262 Maple Avenue.  Also arrested was Heriberto Santiago, DOB 2/16/54, charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Narcotics, PWITS, Possession within 1,500 feet of School.

Also on February 26, 2004, at 8 Center Street, Vice and Narcotics Detectives conducted an investigation into a community complaint of illegal narcotics activity in the Clay Arsenal sector of the city which resulted in the seizure of eleven (11) packages of heroin and the arrest of Marilyn Nunez, DOB 11/07/70, of 29 Belden Street, Hartford charged with Possession of Narcotics, PWITS, Possession of Narcotics within 1,500 feet of a School.

Also on February 26, 2004, based on community complaints of illegal drug activity in the Brook Street area, launched an investigation into the area of 131 Brook Street that resulted in three arrests.  Arrested and charged with Criminal Trespass in the First Degree were Billy Copeland, DOB 11/26/71, of 47 Battles Street; Sean Crowe, DOB 4/29/77, of 143 Burnham Street, and Henry Elon, DOB 7/18/79, 155 Homestead Avenue, all of Hartford.  Also arrested in the 131 Brook Street investigation were Carlos Lopez, DOB 6/25/65, of 54 Benton Street, charged with Criminal Attempt to Possess Narcotics, and Richard Sanabria, DOB 3/7/63, of no certain address, charged with Criminal Attempt to Possess Narcotics.

Also on February 24, 2004, based on community complaints, Vice and Narcotics Detectives conducted an investigation in a "Hot Spot" at 416 Garden Street, near the corner of Mather and Enfield Streets.  As a result of the investigation, Detectives seized 87 ziplock bags of marijuana and a 1990 Plymouth Acclaim automobile.  Arrested was Anthony Owens, DOB 11/18/72 of 245 Garden Street, charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, PWITS, PWITS within 1,500 of a School.

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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