TELLING YOU TODAY? YOU KNOW, THEY SAY THEY ALREADY FEEL SAFER AND REALLY A SENSE OF RELIEF. PEOPLE WHO DID NOT WANT TO GO ON CAMERA TELL ME THAT THE STREETS OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS ALREADY FEEL DIFFERENT. THEY JUST HOPE THAT IT STAYS THAT WAY. NINE GUNS, INCLUDING AN AR STYLE RIFLE, AMMUNITION, 200G OF HEROIN AND FENTANYL, AND 120G OF COCAINE, ALL SEIZED IN THE DISMANTLING OF A NORTHEAST BALTIMORE DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION OPERATING OFF BEL AIR ROAD. THE TAKEDOWN COMES AFTER A SEVEN MONTH LONG EFFORT BETWEEN THE SAO POLICE, CITY GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. RITA CRUZ LEADS THE NEARBY BEL AIR EDISON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION. WE KNOW ABOUT THE OPEN AIR DRUG MARKETS, WE KNOW ABOUT THE GANGS AND SO FORTH, AND BELLA EDISON AND I’M JUST THANKFUL NOW THAT IVAN BATES AND OTHERS ARE REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR US WHO LIVE HERE IN BEL AIR. EDISON, A GROUP CALLING THEMSELVES 4200, ACCUSED OF DISTRIBUTING COCAINE, HEROIN AND FENTANYL. INVESTIGATORS BEGAN FOCUSING ON THE AREA NEAR SHELDEN AVENUE SEVEN MONTHS AGO BECAUSE OF THE OPEN AIR DRUG MARKET OPERATING THERE AND DUE TO RECENT VIOLENCE. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED SPOTS ACROSS THE CITY THAT WERE BEING USED TO RUN THE DRUG DISTRIBUTION FROM A HOME ON NORTH LUZERNE IN THE MIDDLE STREET AREA TO THE ROYAL TOBACCO AND GROCERY STORE OFF NICHOLAS AVENUE, WITH THE STORE CLERK NOW A DEFENDANT IN THE CASE. CITY STATE’S ATTORNEY IVAN BATES STATES THAT THE JOINT INVESTIGATION SECURED THE INDICTMENTS OF TEN PEOPLE. QUOTE, TERRORIZING THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AND JEOPARDIZING THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF COUNTLESS FAMILIES. NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE WE’RE GETTING BACK TO THE WAY BELLA EDISON WAS WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE. SO I’M VERY, VERY HAPPY AND PROUD OF THAT. TO SEE THE FULL LIST OF LOCATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED, THOSE FACING CHARGES GO TO THE APP OR WBAL-TV DOT COM FOR NO
SAO: Drug-trafficking operation dismantled in northeast Baltimore, 10 indicted
Authorities dismantled an alleged drug-trafficking operation and arrested 10 people who prosecutors said are responsible for driving up crime in northeast Baltimore.The defendants who refer to themselves as “4200” now face indictments, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates announced Monday.”This investigation secured the indictments of 10 individuals terrorizing the surrounding community and jeopardizing the safety and well-being of countless families,” Bates said.Authorities said investigators seized nine guns — including an AR-style rifle — ammunition, 200 grams of heroin and fentanyl and 120 grams of cocaine from the group that officials said operated near the 4300 block of Belair Road and 4200 block of Nicholas Avenue.The arrests come after a seven-month investigation between the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, Baltimore police, city government and community members.”We know about the open-air drug markets, we know about the gangs and so forth in Belair-Edison, and I’m just thankful now that Ivan Bates and others are really making a difference for us who live here in Belair-Edison,” said Rita Crews, the president of the Belair-Edison Community Association.The group is accused of distributing cocaine, heroin and fentanyl. Investigators said they began focusing on the areas near the 4200 blocks of Nicholas and Sheldon avenues, as well as the 4300 block of Belair Road due to recent violence in the area and an open-air drug market operating in the community.The investigation revealed places across the city that were being used to run drug distribution operations, including the Royal Tobacco and Grocery Store off Nicholas Avenue, with the store clerk now a defendant in the case.In addition to the store on Belair Road, the following locations were also searched: 3802 Monterey Ave., 1110 N. Luzerne Ave., 4224 Sheldon Ave., 4335 Sheldon Ave., 4235 Sheldon Ave. and 4209 Sheldon Ave.”Now, it seems like we’re getting back to the way Belair-Edison was when I first moved here. I’m very, very happy and proud of that,” Crews told 11 News.The following individuals were indicted: Davon Butler, Taquan Lee, George Lee, Tykala Donaldson, Romiyo Testaye, Jason Williams, Gerard Anderson, Louis Brown, Terrell Cloude and Shamika Watson.
BALTIMORE —
Authorities dismantled an alleged drug-trafficking operation and arrested 10 people who prosecutors said are responsible for driving up crime in northeast Baltimore.
The defendants who refer to themselves as “4200” now face indictments, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates announced Monday.
“This investigation secured the indictments of 10 individuals terrorizing the surrounding community and jeopardizing the safety and well-being of countless families,” Bates said.
Authorities said investigators seized nine guns — including an AR-style rifle — ammunition, 200 grams of heroin and fentanyl and 120 grams of cocaine from the group that officials said operated near the 4300 block of Belair Road and 4200 block of Nicholas Avenue.
The arrests come after a seven-month investigation between the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, Baltimore police, city government and community members.
“We know about the open-air drug markets, we know about the gangs and so forth in Belair-Edison, and I’m just thankful now that Ivan Bates and others are really making a difference for us who live here in Belair-Edison,” said Rita Crews, the president of the Belair-Edison Community Association.
The group is accused of distributing cocaine, heroin and fentanyl. Investigators said they began focusing on the areas near the 4200 blocks of Nicholas and Sheldon avenues, as well as the 4300 block of Belair Road due to recent violence in the area and an open-air drug market operating in the community.
The investigation revealed places across the city that were being used to run drug distribution operations, including the Royal Tobacco and Grocery Store off Nicholas Avenue, with the store clerk now a defendant in the case.
In addition to the store on Belair Road, the following locations were also searched: 3802 Monterey Ave., 1110 N. Luzerne Ave., 4224 Sheldon Ave., 4335 Sheldon Ave., 4235 Sheldon Ave. and 4209 Sheldon Ave.
“Now, it seems like we’re getting back to the way Belair-Edison was when I first moved here. I’m very, very happy and proud of that,” Crews told 11 News.
The following individuals were indicted: Davon Butler, Taquan Lee, George Lee, Tykala Donaldson, Romiyo Testaye, Jason Williams, Gerard Anderson, Louis Brown, Terrell Cloude and Shamika Watson.