Pubdate: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 Source: Detroit News (MI) Copyright: 2002, The Detroit News Contact: http://detnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/126 Author: Edward L. Cardenas Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids) COMET TO SCOUR CRIME Multi-Agency Team Targets Drug Dealing, Prostitution CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP -- The night was warm and muggy as the three people walked down the middle of a street in an area known for its drug dealers and addicts. As a police car cruised up, one of the three stepped back and popped a handful of suspected crack cocaine into his mouth. He was arrested as part of a multi-agency effort to wipe out drug sales along the North Gratiot corridor that stretches from Chesterfield Township to Mt. Clemens. The officers involved are members of COMET: the County of Macomb Enforcement Team. They are given the task of investigating narcotics trafficking and other related crime, like prostitution, in the county. The team consists of the FBI, Macomb County Sheriff's Department, Michigan State Police, and police departments from Mt. Clemens, Warren and Shelby and Chesterfield townships. The law enforcement operation in Mt. Clemens and neighboring communities has been successful due to the ability of officers to have jurisdiction throughout the county. "The drug dealers are not centralized in Mt. Clemens like they used to be," said Macomb County Sheriff's Lt. Robert Taylor, who is assigned to COMET. Macomb County is not alone in having a multi-agency team to fight drugs. An Oakland County-based undercover police operation is hoping to add more manpower this year. Some officers for the Oakland County Narcotics Enforcement Team may also come from agencies in Macomb. Oakland's team is one of the longest running police undercover drug operation in Metro Detroit. It is made up of Oakland County sheriff's deputies, FBI agents and police from a number of agencies including Farmington Hills, Ferndale and Hazel Park. COMET's efforts along the Gratiot corridor in Macomb began in May. The intense enforcement effort is funded by a $40,000 High Intensity Drug Trafficking grant from the U.S. Office of Drug Control to pay for overtime costs of the participating agencies. Arrests and drug seizures by COMET have increased over the past year, and include the arrests of two Canadians who tried to sell more than 3,000 Ecstasy pills to undercover narcotics officers for $30,000. Earlier this year, officers from the unit also made several arrests for prostitution-related offenses at a home on South Morgan in Harrison Township. Responding to a tip and a newspaper ad, an undercover officer went to the home where arrangements were made to pay a fee in exchange for sex. The owner of the home was charged with pandering. Another woman was issued a citation for prostitution, while two other women were charged with frequenting a place of illegal occupation. Not just drugs Last Thursday's arrest near Cairns Field in Mt. Clemens also involved Mt. Clemens police. Police say drug dealers work in certain areas in Mt. Clemens, but disperse to Chesterfield and Clinton townships when police make raids. To attack the problem, officers "flood" the problem areas with marked and unmarked patrol cars. Nearly 20 people were arrested Thursday night, including the 20-year- old who put the suspected crack cocaine in his mouth. "It is a popular way to dispose of evidence that way," Mt. Clemens police officer Pete Jacquemain said. Two girls, ages 16 and 15, were with the man. They were not arrested, but officers did seize what was believed to be a bag of marijuana from the 20-year-old man. To officers, it's more than just drugs they are concerned about. "A homicide occurred at this same location," Jacquemain said of a random shooting on May 26 that killed 15-year-old Tiffany Taylor. Her slaying is under investigation by Mt. Clemens police. Raids not new Thursday's four-hour blitz targeted Mt. Clemens and Clinton Township. Lt. Brian Krutell, acting police chief in Mt. Clemens, said police have been doing these types of drug raids in the city for years. "This is a renewed effort," he said, adding that stepped up efforts by COMET are having a positive impact on the 17,000-resident community. He added it especially is important for the area near Cairns Field. "There are a lot of good families who live in those neighborhoods," Krutell said. "It's not good for anybody to be exposed to that type of stuff." This is not going to be a summertime or occasional effort, according Macomb Sheriff Mark Hackel. "My objective is to remain there through the remainder of the year," said Hackel, who added that his officers are there to assist Mt. Clemens in their efforts. "We are not giving up on this. We are here to stay," he said. (SIDEBAR) Cleaning up Members of the County of Macomb Enforcement Team and Mt. Clemens police spent four hours in a drug operation in that city and Clinton Township last Thursday. Here are details of the operation: * Felony arrests: 5 * Misdemeanor arrests: 14 * Violations of city ordinances: 2 * Warnings issued: 30 * Citations issued for possession or use of alcohol: 5 * Drugs seized: Heroin, marijuana and Vicodin Source: County of Macomb Enforcement Team - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom