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Pocono News Section
Downtown Drug Bust Surprises Some Business Owners
Downtown Drug Bust Surprises Some Business Owners - Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 3:35PM EST
Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Wednesday, Mar 3, 2010 @ 04:35pm EST
STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY - Stroudsburg is known as a cozy shopping town but police say they discovered an illicit business hiding among the cute mom and pop shops.
Business owner Dorothy Ships said, "I don't think any town is immune from this."
Police arrested four people they say were involved in a marijuana and crack cocaine distribution business Tuesday. They found drugs and drug packaging materials in a second floor apartment on the 700 block of Main Street. That's right in the middle of town.
Business owner Chuck Hoffman said, "It was just disconcerting to see that it actually did happen in our neighborhood." Hoffman owns Brite Cleaners. It's just a few doors down from where police made the arrests. Hoffman remarked, "I was really surprised. I'm mostly here during the day time and of course all we see are friendly happy people coming downtown."
Business owners say it's especially disappointing because they work hard to keep this down town nice - doing things like installing shrubbery and lighting.
Ships owns D. R.s Custom Framing. She said, "We've done a lot to really improve Stroudsburg and to make it a destination, a place to come to." Ships is on the board of the Jacob Stroud Corporation. It's a group dedicated to bringing business down town. She told Eyewitness News she's glad police made the bust. She said, "I think they're doing a great job - I really do."
Another business owner said Stroudsburg needs more police. Peter Karasek has owned a Main Street barber shop for nearly forty years. He said, "It's not getting better. It's only getting worse."
Karasek added that it's everyone's responsibility to help keep drugs off the streets. He explained, "You have to have local people really keep their eyes open - if I see anything bad I'll call the police department."
The four people arrested in the drug bust are Arcelis Gonzalez, Gary Jacques, Shabazz Nickens and Robert Medina. | | |
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