PENNSVILLE TWP. — Authorities conducted a drug sweep Tuesday morning in targeted areas of public concern in the township, following a more-than three month investigation into local prescription drug distribution operations.
Pennsville Police, in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, targeted more than 20 men and women who were suspected of illegally obtaining and distributing prescription drugs.
Arrests were made primarily in Penn Terrace Garden Apartments on Meadow Road and Sunrise Gardens Apartments on Fort Sumpter Road.
Law enforcement teams made up of officers from the Pennsville Police Department, Carneys Point Police Department, Salem City Police Department, Salem County Prosecutor's Office, and Salem County Sheriff's Office started rounding up suspects from the apartments at 7:30 a.m. and continued through the morning hours.
Five teams, each consisting of four officers, simultaneously went to both apartment complexes to issue arrest warrants on the individuals.
According to Pennsville Police Chief Bruce Maahs, the arrests were made after a more than three month investigation, during which undercover officers made drug purchases from those arrested.
Maahs said police began investigating targeted areas after residents raised numerous concerns of alleged drug activity occurring at those locations.
"We've been listening to the community's concerns about a lot of activity occurring in these areas, people saying things are different than they were," said Maahs. "We want the public to know that we are working to address these issues. These investigations take time. You don't want to just haphazardly throw the investigation together, you want to make sure all the charges are going to stick."
Many of the suspects arrested Tuesday were already on authorities' radar, after many allegedly reported to police that their prescription medication had been stolen.
Maahs explained that it's typical behavior of prescription drug offenders to obtain a prescription drug from a doctor — such as oxycodone or Percocet — and then either sell off or misuse the pills. The offenders then report the pills stolen to police, and then show a copy of the police report to their doctor to obtain another prescription.
"A lot of the people we arrested (Tuesday) have reported their drugs stolen," said Maahs.
A total of 21 Pennsville residents were arrested as part of the drug sweep. The suspects were then brought to the Salem County Sheriff's Office for processing.
Following is a list of those arrested and their charges:
• Clifton Crabtree, 50, Meadow Road, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS).
• Charles Long, 41, Meadow Road, distribution of CDS.
• James Cameron, 60, Meadow Road, distribution of CDS.
• Christine Cameron, 54, Meadow Road, distribution of CDS.
• Elizabeth Peachy, 35, Meadow Road, distribution of CDS.
• Ronald Hughes, 64, Meadow Road, distribution of CDS.
• Elizabeth Laxton, 59, Meadow Road, distribution of CDS.
• Michael E. Myers, 43, Meadow Road, possession of CDS (marijuana), and distribution of CDS.
• Thomas Townsend, 19, Fort Sumpter Road, conspiracy to
distribute CDS.
• Michelle Magee, 42, Fort Sumpter Road, distribution of CDS and possession of CDS (marijuana), possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Michael I. Myers, 46, Fort Sumpter Road, distribution of CDS.
• Fawn Owens, 25, Fort Sumpter Road, distribution of CDS.
• Louis Lupien, 26, Fort Sumpter Road, possession of CDS (marijuana), distribution of CDS.
• Anita Karr, 44, William Penn Avenue, distribution of CDS.
• Justin Wright, 25, Fort Mott Road, distribution of CDS.
• Terry Ewald-Newman, 48, Highland Avenue, distribution of CDS.
• Shandel Swanson, 40, Main Street, Penns Grove, possession of CDS (cocaine, two counts), possession with intent to distribute (cocaine, two counts).
• Tatasha Williams, 32, Grieves Parkway, Salem, distribution of CDS.
• Katie Surrat, 22, Pearl Street, Salem, distribution of CDS.
• Edward Biernacki, 26, Plummer Road, Alloway, distribution of CDS.
• Curtis Priestly, 45, Westside Court, Salem, possession of CDS (marijuana), distribution of CDS.
The investigation was spearheaded by the Pennsville Police Department with assistance from local law enforcement agencies. The Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office and the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office also assisted in the investigation.
"This was a concerted effort by law enforcement to address the concerns of the public and crack down on these target areas," said Salem County Prosecutor John T. Lenahan. "Multiple departments worked together to make these arrests."
Contact Michael Williams at 856-935-1500 or michaelwilliams@southjerseymedia.comFollow @mwilliams_nj
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