They struck early in the morning when most drug dealers are still asleep. Nearly 100 federal, state and local police officers Wednesday converged on a half dozen homes.
It was called "Operation Reclamation." And officials said they hope the raids will send drug dealers a strong message: stay out of Warren.
"We have a lot of people coming from Detroit that we are keying in on," said Trumbull County Sheriff Thomas Altiere. "We are letting them know we don't want them here."
Police confiscated over 600 bindles of heroin, more than 100 ecstasy pills, crack cocaine, marijuana, guns, a crossbow and cash.
They raided six homes including those at 817 Elm Road, 223 Vermont St., 509 West Park Ave., 970 Hunter St. and 1633 Jefferson St. S.W. The Elm Road address was an apartment located above a diner, which sits directly across the street from Warren Harding High School.
Altiere said individuals at the spots raided were believed to have been selling heroin, and he believed many of the dealers are from out of state.
Altiere and other officials said they are working to get the narcotics off the streets because the illegal drugs are the cause of most of the area's crime.
"Let the community know we are working hard to curb the crime that is going on with the recent robberies, drug trades, homicides, and we are on a mission today and we are reaching our goal," said Sgt. Jeff Cole, of the Warren Police Department.
At least 15 were arrested during the raids.
They include the following individuals who were charged with drug trafficking: Donald P. Miner, 53, and Derrick D. Peete, 19, both of 817 Elm Road; Diane A. Post, 23, Drew Leland Reid, 61, and David L. Reid, 61, all of 1633 Jefferson St. S.W.; Reginald E. Morris, 19, and Andre L. Furlow, 33, both of 509 W. Park Ave.; and Ja-Mel Reed, 28, of 223 Vermont St. N.W.
Arrested after consent searches following the raids and also charged with drug trafficking were Warren E. Freeman, 50; Estacia L. Martz, 22; and Andre T. Haynes, 18. They were all charged with drug trafficking. Arrested on warrants during the raids were Angelo Jequinn Joyce, Ryan L. Hall, Keairra M. Brown and Christopher J. Davis.
All arrested were in Trumbull County Jail Wednesday night and are expected to be arraigned Monday.
