Philadelphia Police Sweep Ends In Dozens Of Gun, Drug Arrests
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia Police announced the outcome of a three-day joint effort by law enforcement to combat violence in West Philadelphia Wednesday. Officers made 64 arrests and seized guns, drugs, and cash.
The operation happened on October 26, 27 and 28, in an effort to curb issues on mischief night and make Halloween safer for kids in West Philly's 16th police district. Police say they succeeded.
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Half of the 64 arrests were for drug sales, about a dozen were related to outstanding warrants and some for violent crimes.
"It sends a message to the bad guys that are out in the neighborhood that they're not going to deal drugs with impunity or think they can hide in their house," said Chief Inspector Daniel MacDonald, of PPD's Narcotics Division. "We're going to come out there and we're going to come get them."
Officers also confiscated $6000 in cash, three cars, 15 guns, marijuana, crack, cocaine and pills collectively valued at more than $28,000.
"There's no Pablo Escobar in West Philly, but there's guys that are really destroying the community with small amounts of drugs in those neighborhoods," MacDonald said. "If you're living there, it leads to a lot of violence, guys fighting over turf, fighting over territory out there. Little bits of drugs that they're selling out there can lead to a lot more violence."
On the third day of the effort, about 50 officers on bicycles canvassed neighborhoods affected by the sweep.
"People were waving at us," said Inspector Verdell Johnson, commanding officer of the Southwest Police Division. "They were happy to see us. We had people coming up to us telling us they appreciate the hard work that we did. It helps the community see the police and let the community know that we are a part of them also."
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The Philadelphia Sheriff's Department and U.S. Marshals helped out in the effort. Investigators are working to determine if any of the people arrested are a part of a larger drug gang.
