Pubdate: Sat, 26 Apr 2014
Source: Enterprise, The (MA)
Copyright: 2014 GateHouse Media Inc.
Contact:  http://www.enterprisenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3231
Author: Ed Donga

SIX WAYS THE RECENT DRUG RAIDS HAVE AFFECTED BROCKTON

BROCKTON - The Brockton Police Department has led or participated in
eight drug raids since April 7, leading to numerous arrests and
seizure of large quantities of drugs and money. Here are six ways
those raids have affected the city.

Arrests

1. The Brockton Police Department arrested a total of 20 individuals
from several local cities and towns during the raids, including
residents from Brockton, Holbrook, Marshfield and Taunton.

The largest raid in terms of arrests came on April 23 when police
arrested six individuals at 427 Centre St., Brockton.

Drugs

2. A substantial amount of drugs was taken off of the streets through
the raids, including 26 ounces of heroin with a street value of about
$71,000.

Less than an ounce of cocaine was also seized during the raids as well
as an undisclosed amount of crack cocaine, amphetamine pills and marijuana.

Guns and ammunition

3. While violent crime has spiked on the streets of Brockton in recent
weeks, police seized multiple handguns during the drug raids.

On April 7, police seized 75 rounds of ammunition at 53 Pleasant St.,
Brockton, including 44 .380-caliber rounds, 20 .38-caliber rounds and
11 .22-caliber rounds.

Three days later on April 10, police recovered a .38-caliber revolver
and ammunition during a raid at 121 Walnut St., Brockton.

On April 15, police seized two guns, a .357 revolver and a .38
revolver at 101 Studley, Ave., Brockton.

Cash

4. The raids also netted a windfall of cash for police, totaling
$30,180 over the course of the eight raids.

Police hit the jackpot on the April 23 raid at 427 Centre St. when
they discovered $25,000 at the residence.

A raid conducted earlier that day at 38 Sheppard St., Brockton brought
in the second-highest amount of money with $1,800 seized at the residence.

Top 50

5. The Brockton Police Department crossed two more names off of its
Top 50 repeat offenders list during the raids after they nabbed
Placido Pereira, 28, of 101 Studley Ave., Brockton, and Jonathan
Andrade, 32, of Woodlawn Ave., Holbrook.

Pereira was arrested at his home during the April 15 raid and charged
with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm without an FID
card, two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition and one count of
unlawful possession with intent to distribute a Class D substance.

Andrade was one of the six individuals arrested during the April 23
raid at 427 Centre St. He was charged with trafficking in heroin,
possession with intent to distribute a class B substance (cocaine),
possession with intent to distribute a class D substance, conspiracy
to violate the Controlled Substances Act and possession of drugs in a
school zone.

Lingering concerns

6. While the drug busts earned praise for the Brockton Police
Department, concerns over crime continue to linger.

"The job isn't over, but they are definitely on a good path," said
Councilor-at-large Shaynah Barnes. "I'm glad that there are more guns
and drugs off street."

However, Barnes would also like to see arrests made in two shootings
that took place earlier this month that left two men dead and remain
unsolved.

"I want them to remember the other part of law enforcement,
investigating crimes and solving murders," Barnes said.

The raids also do not address the crop of new dealers who will be
lured by the lucrative profits of the drug industry to take the place
of the dealers now behind bars.

While the raids will suppress visible activity for a period of time,
Mitch Librett, a criminal justice professor at Bridgewater State
University, said that action must be taken at the national level to
make a more significant impact in the heroin epidemic.

"Before we can make a dent in the heroin problem we have to make a
dent in the availability at a national level," Librett said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt