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Pocono News Section
Drug Raids All Over The Greater W-B Area
Drug Raids All Over The Greater W-B Area - Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 6:32PM EST
Reported by: Jill Konopka
Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007 @06:32pm EST
(WYOMING, Luzerne County) -
A sweeping series of drug raids in Northeastern Pennsylvania continues to un-fold tonight.
Pennsylvania State Police say today’s arrests are the result of an investigation over the past several months involving federal, state and local authorities.
WBRE News was there when several suspects were being processed.
One of them even attacked our Photo Journalist Luke Johnson.
Richard Barner of Wilkes-Barre, a self described cocaine addict attacked our cameras after being released from court on drug charges in Kingston.
Richard Barner said, “Yes, I said I'm a crack head.”
Federal, state and local agencies raided his Carlisle Street Apartment and several other locations in Wilkes-Barre including this home at 48 Lawrence Street.
Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Tim Doherty said, "It was a narcotics investigation into trafficking into this area."
The pre-dawn drug busts led to a handful of other arrests including this single Mother, Carla Leo of the Mayflower Crossing Apartments.
State Police say they found Leo and Steve Adolphe as well as a minor inside her home, along with pot, crack cocaine, packaging supplies and a loaded stolen pistol.
Asst. D.A. Doherty added, "This is an ongoing investigation, subsequently more arrests.”
Another admitted cocaine addict, Lester Sartin of Hanover Street was charged and released for cocaine possession.
State police cuffed and processed even more at the Wyoming Barracks.
Trooper Tom Kelly with the PSP-Wyoming, "It was over 10 but less than 14 in that area."
Including Deborah and James Swank., Corinne Davis and Jeffrey Malavert.
Trooper Kelly added, “We served, a lot of warrants, we got a lot of people, all different types of people. People residing in Wilkes-Barre, origin cities with New York and Haiti.
Agents armed with battering rams and k-9 units also hit this apartment building on Academy Street and this place at 133 Westminster.
Authorities say they're dealing with different federal and state charges.
Trooper Kelly added, "Marijuana, crack, heroin things of that nature, there was guns involved, warrants were for getting people off the streets, getting guns off the street."
Carla Leo was sent to the county jail on 50,000.00 straight cash bail.
Some of the others were arraigned on various drug charges in federal court in Scranton.
Police in Hazleton say as part of this same raid, three people were arrested in an apartment building on West Diamond Ave today.
As a result the city condemned the property, which displaced about 20 people in all. | | |
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