Yonkers Police and Westchester County Law Enforcement Conduct Major Drug Sweep
Dec. 6, 2018 -- Mayor Mike Spano, Police Commissioner Charles Gardner, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr, and Westchester County Department of Public Safety executives today announced a series of arrests which took place last week throughout the City of Yonkers, targeting street level drug dealers as a result of an intensive ten-month long investigation. ‘Operation: Clean Slate’ is a collaborative law enforcement effort between the Yonkers Police Department, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office Investigations Division – Gang, Firearms and Narcotics Bureau, and the Westchester County Department of Public Safety Narcotics Unit.
Members of the Yonkers Police Department and Westchester County Department of Public Safety began executing arrests early Thursday morning, targeting twenty-two offenders who are the subject of this investigation. The majority of these arrests took place on the west side of the City. These individuals are alleged to have engaged in multiple incidents involving the sale and transfer of controlled substances, including opioid pills, heroin, crack-cocaine and powder-cocaine.
During the investigation Yonkers Police detectives, working in collaboration with their partners in the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, conducted numerous law enforcement and surveillance operations to gather sufficient evidence for prosecution, including the utilization of undercover plainclothes detectives to purchase illegal drugs from these individuals. Investigators were able to develop information targeting these subjects, which was presented to a grand jury resulting in the indictment of fifteen defendants; an additional seven had felony arrest warrants filed against them in Yonkers City Court.
The defendants are accused of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance Third degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance Third degree, both Class B felonies in the NYS Penal Law.
As a result of this investigation, investigators recovered the proceeds of over one-hundred transactions of street level illegal drugs. Combined, the defendants have over 393 prior arrests in New York State, 165 of which were for felony charges including robbery, burglary, firearms possession, and illegal drugs.
The investigation is spearheaded by detectives assigned to the Yonkers Police Department’s Narcotics Unit, which is tasked with monitoring, investigating, and apprehending perpetrators of drug crime, with assistance from the Gang Unit and Warrant Squad.
Mayor Mike Spano stated, “Like every other major city in America, fighting the nationwide opioid epidemic and removing drug dealers is of the utmost importance. These arrests from ‘Operation Clean Slate’ make the streets of Yonkers a safer place for our residents, business owners and children. This is another example of why the Yonkers Police Department is one of the finest in the nation and why our city’s crime rates are at historic lows. Thank you to Commissioner Gardner and the YPD, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino and the D.A.’s Office and the Department of Public Safety.”
Police Commissioner Charles Gardner stated, “Illegal drugs have no place in our communities, and these on-going investigations and arrests are a testament to the Yonkers Police Department’s resolve to combat the opioid epidemic and remove drug dealers from our streets, enhancing the quality of life for our residents. I am grateful for the efforts of our police officers and detectives and our partners in the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and Department of Public Safety.”
Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr. stated, “Making our county a safer place starts with cleaning up the streets; and this series of drug-related arrests here in Yonkers is an important step. The sale of illegal drugs ruins neighborhoods, increases crime, and jeopardizes the safety of those who live and work there. We commend Yonkers Police, Westchester County Police, and our Investigations Division Gang, Guns and Narcotics Bureau for their close collaboration in getting these dealers off the streets. We are committed to prosecuting these defendants to the fullest and will see that justice is done for the people of Yonkers and the county as a whole.”
Westchester County Department of Public Safety Commissioner Tom Gleason stated, “Collectively, we will continue to work together to combat the drug problem in Westchester, whether it be heroin, opioids, cocaine, or any other illegal substances that are affecting our communities. We will use all resources at our disposal to identify and arrest those who are selling drugs in Westchester. I commend my Narcotics Unit, the Yonkers Police Department, and the District Attorney’s office on their efforts with this operation.”
As of today, fourteen defendants have been apprehended with eight offenders still at large. The investigation is on-going and additional arrest(s) are anticipated.
Anyone with information regarding drug sales is encouraged to contact the Yonkers Police at (914) 377-TIPS – all calls will remain confidential. 100% anonymous tips can be sent by texting the key word YPD plus the tip to 847411. Anonymous tips can also be sent to us directly through the Yonkers PD Tips app which can be downloaded for free to any Apple or Android device.
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| DA Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. addressing the press |
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| Operation: Clean Slate |
In compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 3.6, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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