The Trenton Times published the following article on July 2, 2013. To read the full article, click here.
Trenton police arrest seven during Summer Initiative sweep in city’s Wilbur section
By Alex Zdan/The Times
on July 02, 2013 at 6:50 AMTRENTON — “Blatant street level narcotic activity” on two blocks in the city’s Wilbur section brought out police to search several homes and make seven arrests Sunday, police announced yesterday.
Following resident complaints about drug dealing and a Vice unit investigation which illuminated a “continuous flow” of drug sales on the entire 400 block of Garfield Avenue, city police, state troopers, prosecutor’s office detectives and Drug Enforcement Agency agents conducted raids Sunday evening.
“Yesterday’s operation is just the beginning of the summer-long initiative to take back our streets and provide relief to our law-abiding citizens from those who have no decency or regard for the law,” Police Director Ralph Rivera Jr. said Monday in a statement.
Rivera was on scene as the law enforcement officers executed search warrants on the 400 block of Garfield and the first block of Hobart Avenue. The warrants were obtained following the Vice unit’s investigation into marijuana and crack cocaine sales on the blocks, police said in a news release.
Sunday’s crackdown is part of Rivera’s program to target violent crime in areas throughout the city using information developed by patrol cops, citizens and fellow law enforcement agencies. Police say the initiative, which has been ongoing in different parts of the city since May 23, also aims to improve residents’ quality of life.
On Sunday, officers also discovered houses on Garfield and Hobart that were uninhabitable and called out city inspectors to examine and board up the residences so they could not be occupied.
Police seized 75 grams marijuana valued at $1,000, nearly $4,000 cash, and drug paraphernalia on Sunday.
City residents Delfron Stephens, 27, Arvie Collins, 48, and Kiyona Blue, 30, were arrested on drug offenses.
Jaquay Jackson, a 28-year-old city resident, Anthony Jacobs, a 21-year-old from Trenton, Justin Gulley, a 20-year-old city resident, and Mary Robinson, 37, from Trenton, were all arrested on warrant charges.
Contact Alex Zdan at azdan@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5705.