By JEFF LIPTON
“Strange behavior was being observed by many of us in the neighborhood,” said Finn, who lives near the building.
The suspicions of Finn and his neighbors were confirmed on Friday, June 13, when Long Beach police raided an apartment in the two-story, 28-unit building. They ended up arresting a total of 15 suspects, all city residents, on drug distribution and possession charges during a citywide illegal narcotics sweep that lasted more than a week.
The arrests were the culmination of an intensive investigation by the Detective Division’s Narcotics Task Force of the Long Beach Police Department, said Police Commissioner Thomas R. Sofield, Sr., who announced the arrests following the drug sweep.
Capping a four-month undercover investigation, the massive raid effectively dismantled a loosely-connected drug ring that had set up shop near the Saint Ignatius Church and the Long Beach Catholic Regional School. “This location was a significant drug operation and it has been shut down,” said Inspector Vincent Buscemi, commanding officer of the task force.
Executing a “no-knock” search warrant at 5:30 p.m. on June 13, a phalanx of police from Long Beach and the county’s Bureau of Special Operations kicked the door in at apartment 2F, stormed in and arrested suspect Lonnie Smith, 27, who lives in the apartment, authorities said. Police also seized 10 ounces of cocaine, 16 ounces of marijuana, an imitation handgun, drug paraphernalia, and roughly $2, 500 in cash, authorities added. The confiscated drugs had a street value of about $40,000, said Lt. Bruce Meyer, a Long Beach Police Department spokesman. Smith was charged with one count of felony first-degree criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance, three counts of third-degree criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of marijuana, police said.
After taking Smith into custody, police rounded up the other 14 suspects at various locations throughout the city, with the final three arrests coming last weekend. Police would not reveal where the 14 suspects were captured because the investigation is ongoing.
“Friday the Thirteenth was not a lucky day for a lot of people,” Meyer said of the suspects who were arrested. He added that more arrests can be expected.
The task force had received several complaints from the community about illegal drug activity at 661 West Broadway and launched an initial inquiry. “As the investigation unfolded, it became apparent that the problem was significant,” said Buscemi.
During the last four months, the task force conducted an undercover operation and made many undercover drug buys, he added.
“The Long Beach Detective Division is very proactive whenever we receive complaints from the community of illegal drug activity in the City of Long Beach,” Buscemi said. “What made this illegal drug operation particularly egregious was that the activity was being conducted in close proximity of Saint Ignatius Church and the Long Beach Catholic Regional School.”
In addition to Smith, also arrested during the sweep were Markee Reeder, 31, who also was charged with three counts of third-degree criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance, and Rashawn Harris, 23, who was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance, police said.
Charged with one count of third-degree criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance were: Ronnie Sutton, 35, Lamar Taylor, 28, Gerald Burns, 24, Casey Fitzgerald, 18, Kerry Cruse, 34, Norman Wilson, 41, Damien Charles, 24, Obe Poindexer, 20, Calvin Wilson, 47, Azon Hollis, 23, and Karen Wilson, 43, and Ricky Bailey, 45. Smith is accused of dealing drugs from his apartment at 661 West Broadway, while the others are accused of conducting drug deals on the streets of Long Beach, police said. The suspects each raked in at least $1,000 a day, investigators said.
“The alleged illegal activity has now ceased, thus returning the neighborhood to the quality of life that Long Beach residents have come to expect,” Lt. Meyer said. “Everybody was very frightened by [the alleged drug-dealing],” said one resident of 661 West Broadway who did not want to be identified. “I was starting to live uncomfortably. The police department did the right thing.”
The task force worked in conjunction with the Narcotics and Street Gang Bureau of the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office and the Nassau County Police Department’s Bureau of Special Operations.
“The cops did a great job,” said Finn, who has lived in the community for 46 years. “But it’s scary what’s going on in this neighborhood. We never had problems like this before. Things are starting to get crazy. I’m paying close to $10,000 in taxes. What’s wrong with that picture? “My kids are scared to go to bed at night,” he said about his sons who are ages 11 and 15. “They are afraid the bad guys are going to come into our yard.”
Comments about this story? Jlipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.
Photos Courtesy LBPD
