DRUG TIP LINE HELPS POLICE NAB SUSPECTS

9 Arrests Since July In North Charleston

A confidential phone line is helping North Charleston police reach out and
touch someone with a pair of handcuffs.

The city's Drug Tip Line has generated 34 calls from the public and led to
nine arrests since it was activated in mid-July.

Tips have helped police seize modest amounts of crack co-caine and
marijuana, and led to two larger investigations that are still under way,
said Lt. Joe Stephens.

"It's working," said Police Chief Jon Zumalt. "The citizens are calling us,
we are acting on their information, and we are making drug arrests."

Officers received their first call the day the tip line was introduced,
Stephens said.

A woman in the Midland Park neighborhood told police she saw two men
dealing drugs to passersby.

Officers arrested the men and seized a couple of grams of crack cocaine, he
said.

People can provide information anonymously or leave a name and number if
they want police to call back with an update.

The line has netted calls from Ferndale, Charleston Farms,
Dorchester-Waylyn, Pepperhill and other neighborhoods.

"We're getting calls from all over the place," Stephens said.

Police are trying to encourage members of the city's growing Hispanic
community to use the tip line, which has a recorded message in Spanish.

Capt. Reggie Burgess said police have received several tips when officers
appeared on local Spanish-language radio station WAZS-El Sol-980 AM to
discuss crime prevention and field calls from listeners.

Police plan to meet with station workers next week to discuss ways to
promote the tip line in the Hispanic community, he said.

The Drug Tip Line can be reached at 308-4708, but calls about crimes in
progress still should go to the 911 emergency number.