HALT SHOWING SUCCESS

On Friday, Elmira Police Chief Scott Drake and a member of the United
States Drug Enforcement Unit visited five businesses in the city that
were found to be selling drug paraphernalia, including crack pipes,
meth pipes, scales and drug packaging materials.

The businesses had been visited on Jan. 24 and asked to voluntarily
stop selling the items. Four of the five businesses were still selling
the material.

Those businesses were put on notice that it is a violation of federal
law to sell drug paraphernalia and they were told if they continue
they will be subject to arrest and seizure of their businesses.

The crack down was part of OPERATION HALT, the city's broad effort to
reduce and eliminate drug trafficking and drug-related crime.

"We won't hesitate to go after them with the full force of local,
state and federal laws," Drake said in a press release.

The Elmira Police Department's new anonymous tip line, 271-HALT, has
fielded 53 calls since its debut on Jan 24 as part of the drug control
effort.

"By using 271-HALT, citizens are helping us crack down on crime,"
Drake said. "We're off to a great start."