Pubdate: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 Source: High Point Enterprise (NC) Copyright: 1999, High Point (N.C.) Enterprise Contact: 336-841-5582 Feedback: http://www.hpe.com/contact/contact_editor.html Website: http://www.hpe.com/ Author: David Coenen, High Point Enterprise, N.C. TAXI DRUG STINGS NETS 68 ARRESTS IN HIGH POINT, N.C., AREA Drug dealers in High Point and Thomasville who want to do their business while in Red Bird taxicabs have been warned: You might get busted. That's exactly what happened to 68 people in a four-month undercover sting called Operation Spring Cleanup. The High Point and Thomasville police departments teamed with Red Bird Cab to catch drug dealers by video-taping them selling drugs to undercover agents in taxicabs. The two departments have arrested 68 people as the result of the sting operation and charged them with various drug offenses. Seventeen of those charged were arrested in a roundup of suspects that took place March 24 in Thomasville. The remaining names of those arrested were released Tuesday. Another 11 suspects have not been identified from the videotape. During the press conference, police showed video clips from the taxicabs. One clip showed a woman smoking a crack pipe in the front of the cab, while another clip showed a man selling crack with his little boy standing right beside him. Red Bird Cab owner Herman Mazzeo said at the press conference he hopes drug dealers will stay away from his cabs the next time they need a ride. "I've lost two drivers to drug activity," Mazzeo explained. One driver was strangled with a microphone cord in High Point two years ago, he said. "Ever since I got involved in the cab business in the Triad, I've been trying to clean it up," he said. Red Bird is the only cab company in the area that requires drug testing for its drivers, he added. Mazzeo said he is not worried about losing business by working with police to catch drug dealers. "That's not going to stop the good people from calling my Red Bird cabs," Mazzeo explained. High Point Chief of Police Louis F. Quijas said Tuesday that cooperation between the two departments is essential in battling the cities' drug problems. "This operation could not have been a success without (Thomasville Chief of Police Larry) Murdock's cooperation," Quijas said. Murdock, who joined Quijas at the press conference, said tips from the community also help in arresting drug dealers. "Community involvement is very critical," he said. Murdock said one woman in Thomasville constantly calls him about people selling crack cocaine in her neighborhood. "That's the kind of information we need," he said. "Call the police as soon as the suspicious activity happens." Quijas said police have to make a connection with the community to defeat crime and drugs in an area. "There's nothing more heart-wrenching to me than when an elderly lady can't get out of her house because of drug activity," Quijas said. People in those situations must make police aware of the problem, he explained. "Our citizens want to see results. People will step up to the plate when they know you will follow through," he said. By responding to residents' complaints of drug activity, police earn the trust of the community, Quijas added. The following people have been arrested or are pending arrest by High Point and Thomasville police in relations to Operation Spring Cleanup. They have been charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver crack cocaine and sale and delivery of crack cocaine: High Point Forrest Leon Quick, 24, Kennedy Avenue; Walter Devon Pouncy, 16, Meredith Street; Terry Dwayne Douglas, 37, Wesley Avenue; Jody Jermaine Byers, 20, Ashburn Street; Arthur Lamont Hunter, 30, Radford Avenue; Patrick Eugene Thomas, 20, Meredith Street; Carolyn Dawn Hunt, 20, Cross Street, also charged with obtaining property by false pretense; Katina Lavonne Thacker, 19, Briggs Place; Avent Lee Sturdivant, 18, Windley Street; Richard Carson Robbins, 50, Richland Street; Dwight Eugene Harp, 37, White Oak Street, also charged with attempting to sell and deliver crack cocaine; Pamela Palshott Riggins, 27, E. Russell Avenue; Melissa Deann Blocker, 31, Vail Street; Franklin Junior White, 18, Worth Street; Julius Kevin Edwards, 40, Graves Street; Timothy Lamont Scott, 28, Blair Street, also charged with sale and deliviery of a counterfeit controlled substance; Debbie Dixon Williams, 33, E. Green Drive; Iris Janelle Johnson, 38, Wickham Avenue; Malachia Alie Jones, 22, Cummins Street; Lakisha Princess Sturgues, 19, Brentwood Street, also charged with conspiracy to sell and deliver crack cocaine; Larry Donnell Barr, 31, South Road, also charged with conspiracy to sell and deliver crack cocaine. Thomasville Chavis Evans, James Avenue; Derrick Hines, Carroll Street; Derek Wilson, Church Street; Jermain Burton, Black Street; Evan Aderhold, Budget Inn; James E. Alford, East Street; Wallace Burnside, address unknown; Legrant Flippen, Pineywood Drive; Janet Jones, Virginia Avenue; Sheneda Love, Church Street; Derek Pearson, Ensley Street; Benjemin Skeen, Small Street, also charged with conspiracy to sell and deliver cocaine; Oliver Steele, Fifth Avenue; Marlon Tripp, Church Street. Other High Point charges: Mitchell Lee Martin, 28, Pickett Place, sale and delivery of a counterfeit controlled substance; Anthony Donald Montgomery, 34, Hilltop Street, obtaining property by false pretense; Tory Lamont Ellis, 19, Oberlin Drive, conspiracy to sell and deliver crack cocaine; Jerry Lavelle Crawford, Carter Street, 34, attempt to sell and deliver crack cocaine; Perry Lawrence McQueen, 34, Cable Street, obtaining property by false pretense; Melvin Parker, 23, Laura Street in Bennettsville, S.C., possession with intent to sell and deliver crack cocaine. Other Thomasville charges: William Little, Church Street, attempt to sell and deliver crack cocaine; Kenneth Rainey, Carroll Street, larceny. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea