Pubdate: Fri, 21 Mar 2008
Source: Daily Local, The (PA)
Copyright: 2008 Daily Local News - a Journal Register Property
Contact:  http://www.dailylocal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4704
Author: Jennifer Miller

CRACK PIPE CRACKDOWN

Coatesville Cops Target Pipes, Bags And Bongs

COATESVILLE - Authorities temporarily shut down three  city businesses
Friday morning while they arrested  employees and seized a large
amount of merchandise drug  dealers and users are known to buy.

Police made arrests and seized drug paraphernalia from  Dave's Deli
and the Gas Stop, both in the 600 block of  East Lincoln Highway, and
the Gulf gas station at the  corner of Strode Avenue and Valley Road.

Six people were arrested and a slew of crack pipes,  "grinders," razor
blades and small plastic baggies were  seized Friday as part of a
joint operation between the  Coatesville Police Department and state
Attorney  General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigations.

First, authorities went to Dave's Deli where they  arrested clerks
Cynthia Rogers, 56, and Stacy Pearson,  28, both of Coatesville for
allegedly selling drug  paraphernalia to an undercover officer minutes
before.

The women were taken into custody as authorities closed  the store and
searched for merchandise they considered  to be drug paraphernalia.
Investigators seized numerous  boxes of mini plastic bags, glass and
metal pipes,  scales, cigarette rolling papers, razor blades and a
computer.

Next, authorities went to the Gas Stop, where they  arrested attendant
Sohail A. Shaikh, 47, of West  Chester, for reportedly selling drug
paraphernalia to  an undercover officer.

Various products are sold out of the gas attendant's  booth. Police
found small baggies and steel wool often  used as crack pipe filters.

Then investigators went to the Gulf gas station, where  they arrested
Melroy Dsouzee, 24, of Coatesville, and  Kulraj Singh, 36, of
Downingtown, for allegedly selling  drug paraphernalia to an
undercover officer. The store  had $20 and $10 pipes for sale near the
register.

Singh is the owner of Dave's Deli and the Gulf gas  station,
investigators said.

All six people arrested will be charged with either  distribution of
drug paraphernalia or conspiracy to  distribute drug paraphernalia aE"
misdemeanor charges.  Additional charges will likely be filed in the
near  future, according to Coatesville Detective Sgt. Chris  McEvoy.

The arrests and searches came after a two-month  investigation, McEvoy
said.

Over the past two years, some residents have complained  about local
retail stores selling items that appear to  have use for drug users
and dealers, like small plastic  bags.

"This has been a problem in the city for a very long  time," McEvoy
said. "The people who are selling these  items are enablers of the
drug dealers because they are  making the products so easily
acceptable to the  dealers. We personally believe that the two go hand
in  hand."

Authorities are going to continue to look at city  retail businesses
for similar merchandise. McEvoy said  he wants City Council to adopt
an ordinance that would  impose harsher penalties for businesses that
sell these  products.

As acting police chief last year, Lt. Julius Canale  heard residents'
complaints about local stores selling  items related to illegal drug
use. On Friday, Canale  said he hopes the recent arrests send local
businesses  a message.

"It shows the community and business owners we're not  going to
tolerate these kinds of actions," Canale said.  "We're not going to
tolerate people who supply drug  dealers."
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MAP posted-by: Derek